Michigan State basketball is a finalist for one of the top transfers on the market, Omaha forward Frankie Fidler.
Tom Izzo is working in the shadows, folks. The Michigan State basketball coach has been criticized heavily for not utilizing the transfer portal enough over the last few seasons and he’s silencing some doubters this offseason.
First, he had Michigan State in the final two for J’Vonne Hadley who seems to be trending to Iowa State and now he has the Spartans in the top four for one of the best forwards in the portal, Frankie Fidler.
The junior forward from Omaha had a huge season with the Mavericks, averaging 20.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.2 steals. He’s not the biggest guy, but he stands 6-foot-7 and weighs about 205 pounds. He would be a nice four for the Spartans and that’s assuming Izzo is OK with moving Xavier Booker to the five (gulp).
Fidler also shot 45 percent from the floor, 36 percent from deep, and 85 percent from the free throw line. He’s one of the best free throw shooters in the nation, making 86 percent throughout his career. That’s impressive when you consider he’s shot 497 and averaged 7.7 attempts per game this past season. He can get to the line and when he does, he converts. That’s something the Spartans desperately need.
The Omaha forward also shot 146 threes so he’s not shy and he can space the floor.
Our own Ant Wright did a film breakdown of Fidler and you have to like what you see from him.
Fidler was 33rd in the nation in scoring and he’s the 36th-best player in the transfer portal, according to 247Sports. It won’t be easy to beat out home-state teams like Nebraska and Creighton as well as Wisconsin but the Spartans can offer him a title-contending squad if he were to join. He would join a lineup ready to compete for the Big Ten and a potential high seed in the NCAA Tournament (assuming Izzo grabs another portal player).
According to Jason Killop of On3, he’ll be taking an official visit to Michigan State on April 12.
It’s been a busy day for Izzo and Michigan State basketball with this news as well as Mady Sissoko hitting the portal.
More must-reads: