After playing just a few minutes in the Bryant game during Michigan State's Elite Eight run, Xavier Booker, along with Gehrig Normand and Tre Holloman, entered the transfer portal.
It was an interesting April 1 for Michigan State and Tom Izzo found out he'd have to replace a few guys who gave their all to the program over the last 2-3 years. Fortunately, only one of those guys (Holloman) was in the regular playing rotation at the end of the season.
Fans had high hopes for Booker in the green and white, however, as he came in as a five-star recruit and worked out with Jaren Jackson Jr. over the summer, leading into his sophomore year.
Unfortunately, he just didn't quite pan out in East Lansing, hitting the portal just 48 hours after Michigan State's loss to Auburn in the Elite Eight.
Three days later, he found a new home with a fellow Big Ten blue blood.
Michigan State transfer Xavier Booker has committed to UCLA, per his IG page.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 4, 2025
Rumors circulated all day on Friday about the kind of money UCLA was throwing at Booker, but there are no confirmed reports. There has been speculation that he's being paid in the ballpark of $1.5-2 million to play for Mick Cronin and the Bruins.
While I doubt that number is totally accurate, I'm sure he got a nice raise to move to California to play for the Bruins. They could use an athletic big with potential and he provides just that.
I am hesitant to believe that the marriage between Cronin and Booker will work out because he's a more blunt version of Tom Izzo. He will tell the media exactly which players are falling short of expectations and that doesn't always rub them the right way, but he does coach hard just like Izzo so there won't be much of an adjustment there.
Fans took to social media to wish him well and it'll be interesting to see him playing for another Big Ten blue blood next season -- hopefully the Spartans get him at the Breslin Center.