Earlier this season, the numbers pointed to the fact that Miami transfer Divine Ugochukwu was one of the nation’s most improved 3-point shooters. The Michigan State guard hit a wall shortly after, but he still showed that he was one of college basketball’s most improved offensive weapons.
Now, a former Michigan State big man tops the list of the country’s most improved 3-point shooters.
Although he didn’t do anything in his return to the Breslin Center last week, Xavier Booker has been the most improved 3-point shooter in college basketball this season.
Per CBB Analytics, Booker is the nation’s most improved shooter from long-range on a minimum of 40 attempts. He’s improved his 3-point shooting numbers by a whopping 18.4% from last year.
The biggest jumps in 3P% year-over-year (min. 40 3PA both seasons):
— CBB Analytics (@CBBAnalytics) February 26, 2026
1. Xavier Booker, +18.4%
2. Barrington Hargress, +18.1%
3. Themus Fulks, +17.5%
4. Drew Fielder, +17.1%
5. Jayden Ross, +16.8% pic.twitter.com/HEaO656WoN
Tom Izzo would tell you that Booker is one of his biggest regrets. He wishes that he could’ve gotten the best out of the Indianapolis native who now plays for UCLA. He’s shooting nearly 42 percent from deep this season, and Spartan fans can only wonder what he would bring to this team.
The Spartans are desperately searching for more consistent shooting so Booker would have fit in nicely. However, he felt like he needed a fresh start, and who can really blame him?
Xavier Booker is on his revenge tour
Booker would have loved to explode for 20 points and 10 rebounds against Michigan State, but it just wasn’t in the cards. That doesn’t mean his revenge tour is a failure, though.
The former Spartan big man played a critical role in leading UCLA past Purdue a few weeks ago and then he dropped 16 points in an upset win over No. 10 Illinois last week. He’s played well on the biggest stages, and that shows that he’s turning the corner as a player.
Although it didn’t work out for him in East Lansing, there are plenty of Spartan fans who are hoping that he sees success with the Bruins as long as it’s not against Michigan State.
Last year, Booker averaged 4.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in just over 12 minutes per game, and this season he’s at 7.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks. He’s one of the more improved players in the Big Ten, but I’m buying some stock in a huge senior year.