Michigan State Basketball: Roster impact of Xavier Tillman’s departure

With Xavier Tillman leaving early for the NBA draft, could there be any roster additions for Michigan State Basketball?

The Spartans and Tom Izzo this summer with 13 scholarship players entering the 2020-2021 season. Tillman and Aaron Henry still had their names in the NBA draft but had till August 3rd to either withdraw their names or stay in the draft. Then Michigan State Basketball picked up the commitment of Max Christie for the 2021 recruiting class to go along with another 2021 commit Pierre Brooks.

The Spartans also picked up two five star recruits for the 2020 class in Emoni Bates and Enoch Boakye so what does that have to do with possibly adding a player for the 2020-2021 season? The 2021-2022 season and available scholarships greatly impact who and if Izzo and his staff adds another player for the 2020-2021 season.

First, you have to look at the scholarship chart for the Spartans for the next couple of seasons.

Then you have to look at student-athletes who are available to play in 2020-2021 season with only one season left to play as a graduate transfer. According to 247sports.com, there are not many players who fit those criteria for Michigan State. The reason why the Spartans can’t add a player with two or more years of eligibility because if Bates and Boakye reclassify for the 2021-2020 season, Michigan State will actually be over the 13 player limit on scholarships.

Unless players like Rocket Watt and Aaron Henry declare for the NBA draft or a player or two decides to transfer at the end of this upcoming season, the Spartans will be in the same situation they were in entering the 2020 offseason.

Michigan State is in a good situation for the future and the 2021-2022 season is what Izzo and his staff should be thinking about in terms of available scholarships and players from 2022 recruiting class reclassifying. Also, Michigan State may add another player for the 2021 class in Jaden Akins.

So instead of adding another player for the 2020-2021 season, Izzo and the Michigan State basketball program announced that Jack Hoiberg has earned a scholarship and is the 13th scholarship player for the upcoming season.

The biggest surprise is not that Hoiberg is not getting the final scholarship but that he is not transferring to play for his father who is the new head coach at Nebraska. Fred Hoiberg though has made it clear that it was Jack’s choice and that he was okay with it. Is it possible that Jack can transfer to Nebraska as a graduate transfer down the road?

Maybe. However, it appears that Jack loves being at Michigan State and Izzo clearly wants him to stay in East Lansing by offering him the final scholarship for this upcoming season.