In case you haven’t heard yet, Mick Cronin ejected his own player during Tuesday’s UCLA vs. Michigan State game at the Breslin Center.
What many people don’t know is that Steven Jamerson II is actually a former MSU student.
According to a New York Post article, Jamerson II was a Michigan State student who tried to walk on to the basketball team but was told there were no tryouts. He then tried to become a student manager and even got to shadow one, but he wasn’t hired.
Being turned away from the Spartans as a walk-on as well as a team manager apparently left him sad and “depressed” but he did say that he enjoyed his one year in East Lansing.
The freshman returned to the Breslin Center for the first time as an opposing player on Tuesday night, and had one of the most embarrassing moments happen to him at the place he once called home. He chased down a wide-open Carson Cooper on a breakaway and fouled him a little too hard, causing a usually mellow Cooper to quickly get up and get in his face.
When Jamerson II got back to the bench, Mick Cronin signaled for him to head to the locker room because his night was over. The UCLA big man looked confused, but he jogged off without an argument. I would bet that he’s already sat down with Cronin to address the hard foul.
While I don’t agree with Cronin ejecting his own player, he could’ve seriously hurt Cooper. This was a teaching moment for the former Michigan State student.
Tom Izzo probably wishes Steven Jamerson II got to try out
Izzo was asked about Jamerson II and if he remembered the 6-foot-10 backup center trying to walk on as a freshman, and he admitted that he doesn’t.
The Spartans’ head coach went on to say that if he saw a 6-foot-10 dude walking around the facility not in a Michigan State uniform, he would’ve noticed and things probably would’ve worked out differently.
Tom Izzo says he doesn't really remember UCLA's reserve Steven Jamerson II, who was an MSU student in 2021-22 and tried to be a basketball manager before playing DI ball for San Diego. Thinks it probably would've worked out differently if he saw a 6-foot-10 kid in the facility.
— Connor Earegood (@ConnorEaregood) February 18, 2026
Although Jamerson is averaging a modest 2.2 points and 2.4 rebounds in 11.3 minutes per game, he would’ve provided Michigan State with some much-needed depth at the center spot. When Jaxon Kohler and Cooper are gassed, Izzo has to turn to Cam Ward and Jesse McCulloch, but the latter only sees a few minutes per game. Jamerson could’ve had a major impact as a senior.
We can’t dwell on the past, though. Michigan State has its guys and Jamerson has found a new home at UCLA after spending the three seasons with San Diego.
It’s not every day you see a 6-foot-10 athletic student denied a walk-on opportunity.