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Michigan State basketball: 3 reasons Tyson Walker should return

By Connor Muldowney

Michigan State's Tyson Walker, right, slaps hands with A.J. Hoggard during the second half in the game against Ohio State on Saturday, March 4, 2023, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.230304 Msu Ohio State 156a
Michigan State's Tyson Walker, right, slaps hands with A.J. Hoggard during the second half in the game against Ohio State on Saturday, March 4, 2023, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.230304 Msu Ohio State 156a /
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Michigan State basketball is in the process of roster construction this offseason and Tom Izzo is awaiting a couple of big decisions from seniors Tyson Walker and Malik Hall.

While both walked on senior day, they both have the option to return for one final season, utilizing that free COVID-19 year. If they do come back, they could help lead the Spartans to their first Big Ten title since 2019-20 and potentially a Final Four run as well.

While I’ll have another post about Malik’s potential return, here’s why I think Walker should come back in 2023-24.

3. Continue to improve NBA stock

Right now, Tyson Walker doesn’t have as high of draft stock as he probably should. Why? Not many NBA teams are willing to take a risk on a 6-foot-1 guard who doesn’t play a majority of his minutes at point guard.

But he has shown he can handle the ball and facilitate, averaging 2.9 assists to a career-low 1.3 turnovers per game. In 2021-22, he averaged 4.3 assists per game. So he’s shown that he does have good vision and can facilitate when AJ Hoggard isn’t on the floor.

If he comes back, he could handle the ball more, and even when he doesn’t, he’ll be out there having plays drawn up for him.

NBA teams would have a tough time ignoring a guy who shoots 40 percent from deep, can drive the lane, averages about 15-plus points per game, and has a deadly mid-range jumper while defending at a high level for two years in a row.

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