Big Ten Basketball: Ranking of 25 best players from last decade (2013-23)

By Joey Loose | Jul 12, 2023

Mar 15, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Frank Kaminsky (44) posts up against Michigan State Spartans guard/forward Branden Dawson (22) and guard Denzel Valentine (45) during the first half in the championship game of the Big Ten Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /

22 of 26

Big Ten Basketball Michigan State Spartans guard Cassius Winston Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Cassius Winston

Winston is a 6’1 point guard from Detroit who became everything that the Michigan State program wanted him to be. He was a Top 30 recruit in the Class of 2016 who spent four seasons staring in Tom Izzo’s offense. Winston proved to be a dynamic player in nearly every aspect, especially as a long-range shooter and ball distributor for the Spartans.

He wasn’t the full-time point guard until his sophomore season, but he put up solid numbers as an underclassman, shooting nearly 50% from outside the arc in that second season. As a junior, he averaged 18.8 points and 7.5 assists per game, leading the Spartans to their second of three-straight Big Ten regular season titles, a Big Ten conference title, and a trip to the Final Four. Winston’s senior year was cut short by the pandemic, but his numbers were just as impressive.

Winston was one of the Big Ten’s best point guards in recent memory, standing out as a team leader and great shooter. He was a Second Team All-American in each of his final two seasons, winning both Big Ten Player of the Year and Tournament MVP during that outstanding junior year. Winston was truly a phenomenal backcourt piece for Izzo’s squad, leading the Big Ten in assists on multiple occasions and doing everything the program needed for their success.

Home/Big Ten