Michigan State basketball: Projected starting 5 with Tyson Walker returning

This might come with somewhat of an asterisk because I believe that if Malik Hall decides to return, he enters the starting lineup in the post. But as of Monday afternoon, Hall hasn’t announced his return for another year, leaving the job wide open for a freshman like Xavier Booker to come in and steal.

I could also see Jaxon Kohler getting in better shape and adding some quickness defensively so he could slide over to the four from the five and enter the starting lineup.

But I think the most realistic scenario outside of Hall returning would be Booker starting after excelling as a senior in the high school ranks and starting the McDonald’s All-American Game in the post. He went from a top-100 four-star recruit all the way up top-10 prospect in the span of a couple of months last summer, showing that Tom Izzo’s hard work was for a good reason. Booker was being courted by just about everyone.

Now that he’s officially a Spartan, however, he’ll improve the post next season and he could probably contribute 15-20 minutes per game if he can work on his conditioning and strength — which he will all offseason.

A starting five with Booker at the four would be ideal if Hall is gone. But I wouldn’t be mad at an improved Kohler here either.