Michigan State Spartans Land Cassius Winston

As a former student at University of Detroit Jesuit High School, I’ve sat through many pep rallies in the gym at Curley Hall. It’s safe to say that there’s never been this much buzz leading up to the occasion.

As students, we were normally more jazzed about the fact that the school day operated on “Rally Schedule” (which shortened each of our class periods in order to make time for the event at the end of the school day). The pep rally was usually just icing on a cake we had already enjoyed.

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This pep rally was a bit different.

Today, the entire student body at the prestigious all-boys school on Detroit’s west side crammed into the bleachers to show their school spirit ahead of the school’s Homecoming game against Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Prep. They also convened to celebrate the commitment of their basketball team’s star point guard.

After a tight recruiting battle between local rivals, Cassius Winston, one of the nation’s top point guards, committed to Tom Izzo and the Michigan State Spartans this afternoon.

Winston’s pledge is the third commitment Izzo has secured for 2016, and positions the Spartans for an even bigger coup in the near future.

Winston was reportedly torn between the Spartans, and their in-state rivals, the Michigan Wolverines. However, once Winston made it obvious that he was leaning towards East Lansing, Michigan made Winston’s decision a bit easier by pulling their offer and securing a commitment from Ohio point guard Xavier Simpson.

With the Wolverines out the mix, it became clear that Winston would likely be wearing green and white on the day of his commitment.

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Winston will vie for the starting point guard spot with incumbent Lourawls Nairn for the next two years, giving the team two very capable leaders in the backcourt. The six-foot-one playmaker is known as a consummate floor general who offers considerable scoring punch. I’ve previously compared him to Kalin Lucas, the former Michigan State guard that led the Spartans to a Final Four in 2009.

Winston’s first task as a Spartan will be to join the recruitment effort for his blue chip summer teammate, Miles Bridges. Winston and Bridges play summer ball with “The Family” in the Nike EYBL, and the Spartans are hoping that the relationship will lead to Bridges becoming the fourth member of their class.

At the moment, the rumor mill has been welcoming of this possibility. Bridges announced that he will make a decision between Michigan State, Kentucky, and Indiana on Oct. 3. This means that Bridges will not be in Lexington for Big Blue Madness, the Wildcats’ premiere recruiting event. He will visit Kentucky before he makes his decision, but at the moment, the Spartans are said to be in the driver’s seat as it pertains to gaining his commitment.

Regardless of Bridges’ still looming decision, the addition of Winston gives the Spartans one of the better recruiting classes in the country at this juncture. The point guard will join five-star wing Josh Langford and four-star big man Nick Ward as prospects who have already committed their future to Izzo and his Spartans.

Next: Michigan St. Close to Landing Monster Recruiting Class

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Michigan State Spartans Land Impact Point Guard Cassius Winston

By Chris Godfrey | Sep 18, 2015

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