Draymond Green, a talented forward out of Saginaw committed to Kentucky because he wanted to play for Tubby Smith. Once Tubby left, he reopened his recruitment, and eventually chose Michigan State. He went on to have a career that will go down as one of the best in MSU basketball history. In the process, he also became my favorite Spartan.
He was the quintessential glue guy his freshman, sophomore year. He rebounded, took charges, and showed glimpses of great playmaking ability. During his junior year, he stepped into a larger role. He became only the third Spartan ever to record a triple double against Penn State when he had 15 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists. He pulled off another triple double in the NCAA Tournament loss to UCLA. That was just the seventh recorded triple double in NCAA history and a prelude to what would be a special senior year.
Green took a team that lost two players to transfers, and had a starter retire prior to the season to a piece of the B1G regular season championship, the B1G conference tournament championship, and a number 1 seed. He had monster games throughout the season, including dropping 34 against Gonzaga in Spokane. He also had another triple-double in the first round of the NCAA tournament. That triple-double put him with Magic Johnson, and Oscar Robertson as the only players to have multiple triple-doubles in the NCAA tournament. That is an epic club to be a part of.
He was named first team All-American by multiple publications. He was only the fourth Spartan to achieve that honor. He also was awarded the National Association of Basketball Coaches player of the year. That is the only player of the year award to not go to Kentucky's Anthony Davis.
I have been a Spartan fan from the womb, and I haven't enjoyed watching a player more than Draymond. He played the game "the right way", and steadily improved throughout his career. In an era where cats leave after one good year, it was refreshing to see a guy stay for all four years, improve, and grow into a college superstar. I honestly feel that he can be a role player in the NBA for years, and maybe even more if he lands in the right situation.
So, thank you Tubby Smith. Had you not left Kentucky, Draymond Green would not have became a Spartan. All of the stats and facts stated above wouldn't have happened, and he wouldn't have became my favorite Spartan of all-time. Here's to you, and to it not taking another 20 years for a player similar to come through here. Go Green!!!
I'm Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr. and I approve this message.
Green took a team that lost two players to transfers, and had a starter retire prior to the season to a piece of the B1G regular season championship, the B1G conference tournament championship, and a number 1 seed. He had monster games throughout the season, including dropping 34 against Gonzaga in Spokane. He also had another triple-double in the first round of the NCAA tournament. That triple-double put him with Magic Johnson, and Oscar Robertson as the only players to have multiple triple-doubles in the NCAA tournament. That is an epic club to be a part of.
He was named first team All-American by multiple publications. He was only the fourth Spartan to achieve that honor. He also was awarded the National Association of Basketball Coaches player of the year. That is the only player of the year award to not go to Kentucky's Anthony Davis.
I have been a Spartan fan from the womb, and I haven't enjoyed watching a player more than Draymond. He played the game "the right way", and steadily improved throughout his career. In an era where cats leave after one good year, it was refreshing to see a guy stay for all four years, improve, and grow into a college superstar. I honestly feel that he can be a role player in the NBA for years, and maybe even more if he lands in the right situation.
So, thank you Tubby Smith. Had you not left Kentucky, Draymond Green would not have became a Spartan. All of the stats and facts stated above wouldn't have happened, and he wouldn't have became my favorite Spartan of all-time. Here's to you, and to it not taking another 20 years for a player similar to come through here. Go Green!!!
I'm Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr. and I approve this message.
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