Michigan State basketball: Javon Small would be good transfer fit

Originally posted on Spartan Shadows
By Connor Muldowney | Last updated 3/25/24

If Tom Izzo does decide to hit the transfer for Michigan State basketball this offseason, Javon Small would be a good fit.

The offseason is officially upon us as a second-round exit against North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament and Michigan State basketball fans are begging for Tom Izzo to utilize the portal.

Over the past few seasons, a couple of Izzo’s best players (Tyson Walker, Joey Hauser) have come from the portal and he’s had plenty of success with transfers in the past like Bryn Forbes and Brandon Wood. The portal does work, he just needs to find the right fits and one player currently on the market fits that description.

Oklahoma State combo guard transfer Javon Small looks like he’d be a great fit in the green and white.

Our own Ant Wright broke down some of his film when he hit the portal and his game would complement the Spartans next season and bring some much-needed offense with the loss of Walker.

Transfer Portal Breakdown

Javon Small – 6’2” 180 pound combo guard transfer from Oklahoma State

Notes: Paired with another combo guard you can have one of the best backcourts in the country pic.twitter.com/77bs6xcSKg

— ᗩᑎT ᗯᖇIGᕼT (@itsAntWright) March 18, 2024

Although he’s not the biggest guard, standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 180 pounds, he could fill that role of Walker in a three-guard lineup, especially if Akins opts to return. The lineup could be similar to this years, other than the fact that I believe Izzo needs to add a transfer center as well and Xavier Booker needs to slide over to the four spot.

Small averaged 15.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.4 assists with Oklahoma State last season, shooting 44 percent from the floor, 37 percent from deep, and 86 percent from the line. Those kinds of numbers would be perfect in this lineup next season. It would take pressure off Akins if he were to return and it could even replace Jaden if he opted to enter the NBA draft. Small just feels like he would slide in perfectly next to Akins and Tre Holloman or Jeremy Fears Jr.

Having that extra scoring touch from everywhere on the floor with efficiency is just what this team needs and Small has proven he can be effective at the highest level.

Don’t be surprised if Michigan State basketball pursues the Indiana native heavily.

This article first appeared on Spartan Shadows and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: