Busting Brackets
Fansided

Michigan State Basketball: Projected depth chart/rotation for 2023-24 season

By Trevor Sinodhinos

Michigan State Spartans' A.J. Hoggard (11) Mady Sissoko (22), Tyson Walker (2) and forward Malik Hall (25) during the 69-60 win over Marquette in the second round of the NCAA tournament in Columbus, Ohio, March 19, 2023.Msumarq 031923 Kd6623 MSU huddle
Michigan State Spartans' A.J. Hoggard (11) Mady Sissoko (22), Tyson Walker (2) and forward Malik Hall (25) during the 69-60 win over Marquette in the second round of the NCAA tournament in Columbus, Ohio, March 19, 2023.Msumarq 031923 Kd6623 MSU huddle /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
NCAA Basketball
Michigan State Basketball guard AJ Hoggard Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports /

Point Guard: A.J Hoggard and Jeremy Fears

A.J. Hoggard: 12.9 ppg / 5.9 apg / 30.6 mpg

After starting thirty-three of thirty-four games last season, the 6 foot 3 guard will be entering his fourth season wearing Spartan Green. Despite being the primary ballhandler, the loss of Joey Hauser put Hoggard in the position of being the second-leading scorer. A title he should have no trouble maintaining as the starting point guard.

With three other starters returning, Hoggard will easily fit into a comfortable role of getting Mady Sissoko the ball in scoring position if opposing defenses decide to hedge on the pick’n’roll. Hoggard is also extremely effective off the primary fastbreak, as he consistently pushes the ball up the court after an outlet pass in order to drive to the basket to draw the defense and kick it out to the spot-up shooter.

The former top seventy-ranked freshman is also willing to post up defenders, which, when combined with his ability to drive past defenders contributed to Hoggard attempting the sixth most free-throws in the Big Ten and the second most total assists.

Jeremy Fears

Brendan Jenkins neatly places the 6 foot 2 point guard’s game into a consumable nutshell on a 24/7sports podcast. Fears won the 2022-23 Max Preps Illinois Basketball Player of the Year while playing with Joliet West. There is little argument that Fears was on a different level in comparison to his 4A Section rivals during the high school basketball season. Fears was able to score in various ways in order to average almost 19 points while eclipsing five rebounds and five assists per game.

There is no arguing the ease with which Fears was able to get to the basket without the need for a screen, but there is also no argument that it will not be that easy in the Big Ten. Fears also showed the ability to hit from beyond the arc, yet none of that was put on display during the 2023 McDonald’s All-American game as he came off the bench for 14 minutes at shooting guard to promptly miss the five field goals he attempted while finishing with zero points and four assists. The freshman looks to be the prototypical Coach Izzo player that will have time to develop as an underclassman and prepare for a dominant senior year when the time comes.

Home/Michigan State Spartans