Xavier Booker has moved on, but Tom Izzo still believes in him
EAST LANSING – A year ago, Xavier Booker saw his minutes begin to decline and his role in Tom Izzo’s rotation shrink. They all but vanished during Michigan State basketball’s run to the Elite Eight
The former five-star recruit transferred to UCLA and another demanding coach, Mick Cronin. And now comes a full-circle moment for Booker when the Bruins visit Breslin Center on Tuesday, Feb. 17 (8:30 p.m., Peacock).
“I do love Xavier. I love the guy. I absolutely love him,” Izzo said during his press conference Monday. “But I can’t love him tomorrow night. I can’t even like him. But that’s just the world we live in – he shouldn’t like me, either. But after, there will be a hug. And after, either way, there will be a phone call.
“And that’s what I live for.”
The 15th-ranked Spartans (20-5, 10-4 Big Ten) host UCLA (17-8, 9-5) to open a two-game homestand.
“It was definitely a little sad,” Booker said to the California Post of leaving MSU. “But we kind of all knew what it was and we all came to an agreement.”
So far, his time in Inglewood has been similar to his time in East Lansing for the 6-11, 220-pound junior, even though his overall numbers and minutes have gone up.
Booker has continued his roller-coaster career with the Bruins, averaging 7.2 points and 3.7 rebounds while starting 23 of 25 games and averaging 20.3 minutes this season. He's shooting 41.5% from 3-point range and 55.3% overall. However, those totals dropped in Big Ten action, to 6.2 points and 3.4 rebounds over 18.7 minutes a game. Of his 30 blocks this season, only 13 have come against league foes.
Booker had a stretch in early January in which he did not start at Wisconsin and played just 1 minute, then started but played just 2 minutes at Ohio State . He also scored a career-high 24 points in a win over Rutgers on Feb. 3, going 4-for-4 from 3-point range, then followed it with an 0-for-5, one-point game with seven rebounds against Washington four days later.
“Most nights, you are going to play somebody who is just as strong as you or stronger,” said Booker, who who had five points and two rebounds in 18 minutes during UCLA's 86-56 loss at No. 1 Michigan on Saturday. “It’s definitely been an adjustment, but I have been getting better every day.”
In two seasons at MSU, the Indianapolis native started five games and averaged 4.3 points and two rebounds while averaging 11.2 minutes in 60 games.
“Nobody knows what goes on behind closed doors. You guys all think you do, but most of you don’t,” Izzo said. “My relationship with Xavier was good. I was part of the reason he left, I was part of the reason he almost didn’t leave. In other words, I didn’t feel like I got through to him like I could’ve and should’ve, and that’s not always his fault.
“I’ve talked to Book a lot over the last six months, eight months. I hope our fans treat him with the respect he deserves. He was a great student here, he never caused any problems, he always did his job. I always wanted more out of him, and I think he did, too. And yet, I don’t think I did a good enough job getting that out of him. And that’s part of a coach’s job, too.”
Booker committed to MSU in July 2022 after a huge summer on the AAU circuit elevated his prospect profile. He was ranked the nation's No. 2 center and No. 14 overall player in the class of 2023, according to 247 Sports' composite rankings.
But it never worked out with the Spartans , even though Izzo staunchly defended the big man from criticism. And Izzo has continued to counsel Booker since he went west to UCLA and Cronin, a coach whom the Hall of Famer expressed his respect and admiration for Tuesday over how he has built his program and teaches his players.
“Trust me, when Book left here, I met with his parents, met with him. It was a very amicable, good deal, respectful and everything else. Disappointment both ways,” Izzo said. “The relationship thing, we all know it’s turning transactional. We all know people are gonna get upset if you don’t go in the portal, if you don’t spend enough money, you don’t do this, you don’t do that. Those have nothing to do with the relationships.”
Izzo said he still believes in Booker’s pro potential and plans to help him get there however he can, even if it’s from afar.
“The relationships, they don’t change. With guys that do me right, I do them right. And that relationship will last a lifetime,” Izzo said. “Someday, I hope I’m calling a team for Book. Someday, I hope I’m hoping I’m helping him get somewhere, as I have other guys that have left. And some guys maybe have left on other terms that I don’t feel the same, and my dumb backside will probably still help them. Because that’s kind of what you go to work for every day.”
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com . Follow him @chrissolari .
Subscribe to the "Spartan Speak" podcast for new episodes on Apple Podcasts , Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tom Izzo on Xavier Booker, who left Michigan State basketball for UCLA
