Something long overdue happened earlier this week that should lead to something else that’s painfully overdue taking place.
Now that I’ve been vague enough, I’m talking about the Kalin Lucas Michigan State Hall of Fame induction. He’s been out of the program for over a decade and inductees usually need to wait around five-plus years after their playing careers are over, and Lucas graduated 15 years ago. I would have understood like a 5-10 year wait for Lucas, but 15 seems crazy.
As part of the 2026 Michigan State Hall of Fame class, Lucas has essentially been honored in every way possible as a legend of the basketball program.
Except one.
It’s time that we retire the No. 1 jersey but we’re in a weird spot where Jeremy Fears Jr. is still wearing the jersey, but I could see a world where Tom Izzo decides to wait until he leaves for the NBA to do somewhat of a dual-retirement of the No. 1, assuming Fears has another All-American season and can lead Michigan State to a Final Four.
There are a lot of ‘ifs’ in that statement, but Fears would absolutely be worthy of a jersey retirement if he were able to win another Big Ten title, be named an All-American again, break the assists record, and get Michigan State to at least the Final Four. If he were to win a title, there would be no debate.
Either way, Fears should be the final Spartan to wear the No. 1 because Lucas earned the right to have his number retired years ago.
Kalin Lucas was really just a title away
People often forget just how good Lucas was at Michigan State. He averaged over 10 points per game each season and finished his career with 1,996 total points and 558 total assists.
Lucas was one of the best point guards to ever play for Izzo, but if he had won a national title in one of the three years that he was healthy — or even when he got injured at the beginning of the 2010 NCAA Tournament — I think we’re talking about him contending with Mateen Cleaves and Cassius Winston as the best point guards that the Hall of Famer has ever coached.
I was always a massive fan of Lucas’ and he was one of the most fun Spartans to ever suit up in the green and white, but for some reason his jersey has yet to be retired.
It’s time to change that once Fears is gone.
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