Big Ten Basketball: Top 20 impact transfers heading into 2021-22 season

No. 8 Tyson Walker – Michigan State

Spartans’ head coach Tom Izzo may not have experienced the greatest exodus of players in terms of number among the Big Ten coaches, but the side effects caused by the departures will rival any in the conference. Coach Izzo was prepared for the graduation of Joshua Langford and for Aaron Henry to depart for the NBA, however, the departures of Foster Loyer and Rocket Watts were not only less expected, but drained the depth of the backcourt even more so.

Enter Northeastern transfer Tyson Walker who will immediately be saddled with the responsibility of running the Spartans’ offense as the starting point guard. Walker joins the Spartans after just two seasons with Northeastern. The 2020-21 season saw Walker average just under 19 points per game and coming up just shy of averaging five assists. Despite those impressive stats, it was Walker’s contribution on the other end of the floor which garnered him the CAA Defensive Player of the Year.

The 6-0 point guard is a constant threat in isolation and virtually unstoppable if forwards switch on to him off a screen. Walker continuously draws the defensive help on penetration and is able to find a frontcourt player for an easy finish and assist. His six three-point attempts per game are two more than Izzo had anybody shoot last season, but his 35 percent success rate from beyond the arc should cause defenders to play close.

With second-year guard AJ Hoggard and the No. 48 ranked freshman Jaden Atkins backing Walker up, Walker will not replicate the numbers he had in the CAA, where he racked up eight twenty or more performances last season, but he will be a major contributor for the Spartans.