All-Time Michigan State Spartans Basketball Roster

Michigan State has had plenty of outstanding players in their basketball history. One thing is true for each of those players: they are Spartans through and through. The loyalty shown by each of the players who have donned the green and white is special. Not to mention how many of these great players still give back to the program, from generous donations to showing their love for Michigan State and coach Tom Izzo . To think that most of the players that make up this all-time Michigan State Spartans roster played for either Jud Heathcote or Izzo is simply amazing. So without further delay, here’s who made the team.

All-Time Michigan State Spartans Basketball Roster

Point Guards

You want to talk about historic players, look no further than the man who defines Michigan State basketball. Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson . He was born a basketball star, and he wasn’t bad at winning championships either. This high school stud from Lansing, Michigan, stayed home with the Spartans in 1977. His two seasons were simply remarkable. During the 1978-19 season, he and the Spartans rose to the mountain top of college basketball as they knocked off an undrafted Larry Bird and the Indiana State Sycamores to win the 1979 NCAA Championship. Magic’s all-around ability was on display that night. Johnson finished as an All-American and a two-time All-Big Ten player.

Magic finished with 1,059 points, 471 rebounds, and 491 assists in just two seasons at Michigan State (1977-1979). He carried his greatness to the NBA, where he won five NBA Championships with the Showtime Los Angeles Lakers, cementing his place on this Michigan State roster.

The Spartan magic of 1979 was added to when Mateen Cleaves led the ‘Flintstones’ to prominence at Michigan State from 1996-2000. Cleaves was cut from the same cloth as Johnson. As a floor general, Cleaves helped lead the Spartans to three straight Big Ten Championships and back-to-back Final Fours in 1999 and 2000. That 2000 run ended with the Spartans cutting down the nets for the second time in their history. His accolades were stout. Cleaves finished as a three-time consensus All-American, three-time All-Big Ten, and a two-time Big Ten Player of the Year. Not to mention, he finished as Michigan State’s all-time leader in assists, a mark that was also the Big Ten’s record for 20 years.

Izzo’s Floor Generals

Kalin Lucas continued the elite point guard movement at Michigan State. His time with the Spartans (2007-2011) resulted in two Big Ten Championships, plus back-to-back Final Fours in 2009 and 2010. The 2009 run was special, as the Spartans took down plenty of powerhouses en route to the National Championship Game in Detroit. Lucas’s dazzling career, which saw him finish with 1,996 points, had a rough ending as significant leg injuries derailed his final two seasons in East Lansing.

The final point guard spot has to go to none other than Cassius Winston . The Detroit native was born to be a star at the college level. Like Johnson, Cleaves, and Lucas before him, Cassius led Michigan State to an elite level. During his time as the floor general, the Spartans won three straight Big Ten regular-season titles from 2018-2020. Add in a Big Ten Tournament title in 2019. Winston was simply a joy to watch. His craftiness, despite not being the most athletic of guards, was always on display.

The 2018-19 Big Ten Player of the Year helped lead the Spartans to an upset of #1-seeded Duke, led by Zion Williamson , to reach the Final Four in Minneapolis in 2019. Winston’s senior year (2019-2020) may have ended in a dark place because of COVID and the tragic loss of his younger brother, but he still delivered a memorable season and career. Winston finished with 1,969 points, becoming the first Spartan to reach the 1,900+ mark since Lucas. He also finished with 890 assists, breaking Cleaves’ 20-year record for both the Spartans and the Big Ten. His No. 5 jersey won’t soon be forgotten.

Shooting Guards / Combo Guards

The 1980s saw quite the push for combo guards, especially at Michigan State. The players that make up the shooting guard/combo guard spot could have easily played the point.

We begin this group with Scott Skiles . Yes, the guy who still holds the NBA record for single-game assists all-time with 30. Turns out he was quite a great shooter at the college level. Too bad he didn’t have the three-point line for his whole career. Skiles suited up for Coach Heathcote from 1982 to 1986. His final season was big as he finished as both an All-American and the best player in the Big Ten. He averaged 27.4 points per game that season and had 850 points, which is still a school record. He also finished with 2,145 career points.

Steve Smith was another guard who could score the basketball. He was the final big fish of the Heathcote era in East Lansing. ‘Smitty,’ as he is so fondly referred to, defined MSU basketball during an era in the Big Ten when the Spartans weren’t quite on par with the likes of Michigan, Purdue, and Indiana. His run from 1987 to 1991 only saw one decent NCAA tournament run, as the Spartans reached the Sweet 16 in 1990. His success was more as an individual star. He finished his career as one of just four Spartans to score over 2,000 career points.

Like Skiles and Smith, Shawn Respert was a big-time scorer for the Spartans. He was in East Lansing for five seasons (1990-1995). When his time was done, he left Michigan State as the school’s all-time leading scorer. His senior season also saw him garner Big Ten Player of the Year, and he was a consensus 1st-Team All-American.

A star unlike any other, Denzel Valentine had plenty to live up to when he arrived at Michigan State. The two-time state champion from nearby Lansing-Sexton delivered a highly entertaining Spartan career. From making flashy passes to making the unlikeliest of shots, No. 45 dazzled the Izzone for each of his four seasons. His Valentine’s Day game-winning three against Ohio State in 2015 still comes to mind. He had two-career triple-doubles, joining Magic, Charlie Bell , and Draymond Green as the only four Spartans to have finished with a triple-double.

Small Forwards

This section of the roster had plenty of difficult choices, especially when one of the players certainly didn’t play like a small forward. I suppose that tells you the difference in the eras. Greg Kelser and Jay Vincent were both part of the 1979 National Championship-winning team alongside Magic. Outside of that, they both had standout careers. In Kelser’s case, you’re talking about one of the best rebounders in Spartan history. Greg ‘Special K’ donned the Green and white from 1975-1979. He finished his career with 2,014 points and 1,092 rebounds. That rebound mark was the school record for more than 30 years.

Kelser made the No. 32 famous at Michigan State. As much as Vincent made the No. 31 special as well. Jay, for his part, became a great scorer in his own right. He set a precedent at Michigan State that his younger brother, Sam Vincent , also followed. Both brothers scored over 1,800 points in their respective Spartans careers. That’s quite a good accomplishment for a program that has been like one big family.

Up next is probably the most important small forward the Spartans ever had. Morris Peterson was the other half of the dynamic duo for Izzo’s 2000 National Championship. Despite all the attention Cleaves had during his career, he wouldn’t have led the Spartans to glory without Mo Pete. Cleaves dealt with all kinds of injury issues during that season. Without him, Peterson was more than ready to pick up the pieces. Morris outshone Mateen that season, taking the Big Ten Player of the Year Award and Big Ten Tournament MVP. Peterson contributed plenty during his Michigan State career, so No. 42 is a must-have on this all-time roster.

Flintstones Live On

The Flint to Michigan State tradition was carried on by Miles Bridges (2016-2018) when he chose to suit up for the Spartans. Bridges was a flashy player who could make threes, while also throwing down some highlight-worthy dunks. Despite the team struggling during his freshman season, Bridges was as advertised, finishing as the Big Ten Rookie of the Year in 2016-17. Despite being a high NBA Draft prospect, Miles returned for his sophomore season. The Spartans benefited as they won the Big Ten outright for the first time since 2009, with a 16-2 record to boot. He was All-Big Ten and earned consensus All-American honors. Despite only two seasons at MSU, he finished with 1,055 points and 469 rebounds. He more than carried on the Flintstone tradition while at Michigan State.

Power Forwards

The original Michigan State superstar, Johnny Green , was a phenomenon during the late 1950s. His nickname was ‘Jumpin’ Johnny Green. Boy, he could jump. He was a double-digit scorer during each of his seasons from 1956 to 1959. He was also a fantastic rebounder. His rebound averages per season are still pretty much untouchable in Michigan State history. A career mark of 16.4 boards per game. Not to mention, he was the centerpiece on the Spartans’ first-ever Final Four trip in 1957. They fell in the third-place game against the famed San Francisco Dons. Despite only being 6-foot-5, Johnny could play the power forward and center spot. He made the No. 24 famous at Michigan State.

Kevin Willis didn’t begin his college basketball career in East Lansing. He started at the Junior College level. His toughness and grit led him to MSU before the 1981-82 season. His rebounding certainly is what made him excel at the collegiate level. Sure, he finished with 798 points in his three seasons, but his 563 career rebounds were nothing to be ashamed of. Sure, his college career isn’t on par with most of the rest of this team. But his longevity, which he showed during a 23-year NBA career , was amazing.

The final power forward spot has to go to the best player Tom Izzo has ever developed. Draymond Green showed up at Michigan State as an overweight kid. He left a man. What Green did in his four seasons was a pleasure to watch. From clutch defense to great ball handling as a forward. He was a part of two Final Fours and countless Big Ten Championship wins, three regular-season crowns, and a tournament title to boot. His 2011-12 senior campaign was special. It was in a clash with rival Michigan that season, where he single-handedly outrebounded the Wolverines himself.

That ended up being a huge reason he is Michigan State’s all-time leading rebounder. Draymond, at one point or another during his Spartan career, took home an award in the Big Ten. He was a consensus 1st-Team All-American. He continues to carry on his Spartan grit with the Golden State Warriors in the NBA. It was a pleasure to watch him make the No. 23 famous in East Lansing.

Centers

The first center for this team is an emotional choice. The late Adreian Payne came to Michigan State with the heart, but not quite the stamina to be the center the Spartans needed early in his career. By the end of his run with the Spartans, Payne became a heartwarming story. His hard work to give his best and be a good teammate was always shown. He finished with 1,232 points, 735 rebounds, and a then-record 141 blocks for his career. Adreian holds the single-game scoring record for a Michigan State NCAA Tournament game. He had 41 points in a victory over Delaware during his senior season in 2014. His heart and kindness were always on display, even in the unfortunate event that cost him his life in 2022. He will forever be remembered as a loyal Spartan basketball player.

The final two centers both arrived in the same recruiting class in 2017. Both had very different paths to the NBA, but they are forever intertwined. First off is Jaren Jackson Jr . He was a phenomenon. At 6-foot-11, he possessed all the qualities to be an elite big man in the Big Ten. Sure, it would have been exciting to see what more he could’ve done in college, but his lone Spartan season was still special. The Big Ten freshman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in 2017-18 left his mark on Michigan State, despite only spending one season under Tom Izzo.

Jackson Jr. was that kind of talent, and he was more than ready for the NBA when he went 4th overall in 2018. He averaged three blocks per game during that lone season, and he finished with the best single-season block total in Spartan history with 106 blocks. The school record is 168. Man, Jackson would’ve shattered that mark no doubt. He might not ever have his No. 2 hanging in the rafters, but Jaren more than earned a place on this roster.

His pal, Xavier Tillman Sr , also had a fantastic career at Michigan State. Tillman spent three seasons at Michigan State, winning three straight Big Ten titles. Add in that he, like Jackson, won Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year during his career. Like Winston, Tillman didn’t get to finish his career on the right note at the college level. He finished with 913 points and 696 career rebounds. The way the 2019-20 season was going, he was on pace to reach 1,000 points, no doubt. But it wasn’t meant to be. Regardless, Tillman carried on the legacy of the No. 23 while he was fortunate enough to wear it. He was the last player to don the number before it was retired for Draymond.

Honorable Mentions

I would be remiss to not include some honorable mention shoutouts. Jason Richardson , Shannon Brown , Gary Harris , Goran Suton , Drew Neitzel , and Raymar Morgan could have easily cracked this roster as well.