Former Spartan AJ Hoggard will start Vanderbilt career with 1-game suspension

The 2024-25 season hasn't officially started yet, but one former Spartan will begin his career with his new program with a one-game suspension. That's right, AJ Hoggard will be suspended one game to begin the season for his participation in a pre-draft scrimmage.

Doesn't sound very fair, does it?

That's the nature of the draft process these days and if players go through the draft process and participate in these scouting events, they'll be penalized if they do decide to return to college.

Hoggard participated along with Tyson Walker but opted to return to the collegiate level and enter the transfer portal, ultimately landing at Vanderbilt with Mark Byington. Some might see a suspension and immediately knock his character, but this has nothing to do with that. He got penalized for leaning toward going pro before coming back to play elsewhere.

It feels like Hoggard and Tom Izzo still have a solid relationship so those who are hating on Hoggard for transferring are doing so out of spite for him not quite living up to his preseason expectations from last season. He was supposed to be an All-Big Ten point guard but struggled early on, finishing the year averaging 10.7 points and 5.2 assists per game on 41 percent shooting -- all down from his junior season.

The fit at Vanderbilt is interesting and it'll be intriguing to see if he can live up to his potential there and carve out a nice NBA draft stock for himself.

Fans will have to wait an extra game to see him take the court for the Commodores, however.