About 24 hours after it was rumored that Michigan State was going to miss out on Aiden Sherrell to Indiana, the Alabama transfer finally made it official and committed to the Hoosiers.
There were probably several things that went into the decision to commit to the Crimson Tide including playing time, being able to play the four, money, and the fact that he's moving closer to home. Unfortunately, Michigan State could have offered him just about everything he wanted.
NIL money is obviously going to be at the forefront for every elite player in the transfer portal, but it's not like Michigan State couldn't have paid him, it was more so making sure that Izzo didn't ruffle anyone's feathers in the locker room by overpaying for one guy who'd make the most on the entire team. That didn't sit well with Izzo apparently.
Instead, the No. 12 overall transfer chose second-year head coach Darian DeVries and the Hoosiers which was somewhat surprising given the fact that Michigan State was an all-around perfect situation for him.
Sherrell could have had it all at Michigan State, but he chose hope -- and likely a bag -- at Indiana.
The fit at Michigan State made too much sense
Sherrell wanted to go somewhere that he could be developed, play big minutes at his desired position, get paid a good amount, and contend for a national title with an elite head coach closer to home. He got a lot of that at Indiana, but not everything.
Indiana figures to be better next season under DeVries, especially since the Hoosiers are paying big money on their roster, but they're not quite going to be national title contenders.
DeVries sold Sherrell on hope.
At Michigan State, he could have moved back to his actual home in Michigan while playing huge minutes in the post for a national title contender that's essentially one big man away from being a true favorite. He also could have played for a Hall of Famer and the Final Four would also be back home in Detroit. He could have played for the program he grew up watching, but instead chose hope and a bag.
You can fault Izzo for a lot of things, but not overpaying Sherrell isn't one of them. There's no way the Alabama big man should make more money than anyone on the MSU roster.
Still, Izzo needs to at least entertain these recruitments if he wants to contend for a national title. All eyes are going to be on his recruitment of Anton Bonke now.
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