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Michigan State Basketball: Breakdown of newcomers for 2020-21 season

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 17: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates after beating the Michigan Wolverines 65-60 in the championship game of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at United Center on March 17, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 17: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates after beating the Michigan Wolverines 65-60 in the championship game of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at United Center on March 17, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND – FEBRUARY 29: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND – FEBRUARY 29: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Michigan State Basketball newcomer – Mady Sissoko

Mount Pleasant, UT – Center – 6’9″, 230 lbs

Should Xavier Tillman leave for the NBA, Mady Sissoko is a player who can step in and contribute high-quality minutes right away. As a top-40 player nationally and the best player in Utah, Sissoko gives Spartan fans something to be excited about.

Playing his high school basketball for Wasatch Academy, Sissoko posted solid numbers in 43 career games. While his 12.2 PPG might not be jumping off the stat sheet, his 8.2 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per contest definitely do (stats per MaxPreps). Watching film, his aggressive rebounding and especially his rim-protecting pops off the screen.

In addition, it is clear that Sissoko has great athletic ability. Not only do his powerful rejections show that, but his rim punishing dunks and post moves demonstrate his strong finishing skills in the paint. Sissoko is a little raw, as are most high school recruits entering their freshman year of college, but he should be able to develop nicely under Tom Izzo and his coaching staff.

Whether Sissoko starts right away depends on Tillman’s potential return to East Lansing and the development of rising junior Marcus Bingham amongst other factors. Regardless, the Spartans’ frontcourt should be in good hands and Sissoko should be ready to play in the Big Ten right away.