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NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Analyzing 2020 G Bryce Thompson’s final 7 teams

By Tristan Freeman

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 06: Bill Self the head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks gives instructions to his team against the Michigan State Spartans during the State Farm Champions Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on November 6, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 06: Bill Self the head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks gives instructions to his team against the Michigan State Spartans during the State Farm Champions Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on November 6, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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MADISON, WISCONSIN – FEBRUARY 12: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts in the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Center on February 12, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MADISON, WISCONSIN – FEBRUARY 12: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts in the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Center on February 12, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Michigan State Spartans

After making the Final Four last year, Michigan State is the near-consensus No. 1 preseason team for the upcoming season. That’s simply because of the return of Cassius Winston, who I have as the best point guard in the college game overall. He’s the kind of player that Thompson hopes to be from a skill standpoint. But if you add the athleticism and explosiveness of the top-20 player in question, you have a much better NBA prospect to scout.

With both Winston and senior guard Joshua Langford gone after this next season, the Spartans are going to have to find new quality guards to remain in national title contention. And while head coach Tom Izzo tends to work best with 3-4 starters, he’ll never decline the opportunity to coach a potential one-year player.

As far as who is projected to be on the perimeter for Michigan State, top-30 combo guard Rocket Watts is someone who could fit great with Thompson. Both are good ball-handlers but also can play at the two-spot without issue. In an era of two-guard led offenses, this pairing would be one of the better ones for the 2020-21 season.

The only issue is that four-star point guard Jalen Terry is already committed to the 2020 recruiting class. And former top-100 guard Foster Loyer is expected to get minutes in the next couple of years as well. It’s not that Thompson wouldn’t get minutes at all but for a program that loves having and utilizing experience, the backcourt for the Spartans could get a little more crowded than some of the other options on this list.

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