NCAA Basketball: 20 breakout candidates for 2016-17

Mar 19, 2016; Des Moines, IA, USA; Connecticut Huskies guard Jalen Adams (2) brings the ball up court against Kansas Jayhawks forward Jamari Traylor (31) in the first half during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /

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Feb 14, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Eron Harris (14) reacts to a play during the second half of a game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Eron Harris (Michigan State)

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo recently told ESPN analyst Andy Katz that the Spartans need senior Eron Harris to be the team’s leading scorer.

Why?

The Spartans are losing five of their top six scorers, including three players that scored in double figures. Michigan State is also losing a ton of experience. Denzel Valentine, Matt Costello and Bryn Forbes are not walking through that door any time soon, and Marvin Clark Jr. transferred to St. John’s.

Harris, a transfer guard from West Virginia, averaged 9.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists in his first year in East Lansing. He shot 43 percent from the field overall and 44 percent from beyond the three point line.

Those numbers look solid on the surface but Harris struggled with his transition to the Big Ten. He couldn’t create as much as he did in 2013-14 with West Virginia and was rusty after sitting out a season.

But this upcoming year, Harris will be the go-to player offensively for the Spartans.

Harris will have to score from all three levels, take the big shots in the big moments and occasionally handle the ball on offense.

Michigan State’s strength lies in it’s recruiting class, but if they are going to make their annual run in March Madness, they need Harris to do his best 2013-14 Mountaineer impression.

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