Carson Cooper Shares Goodbye Message to Spartan Fans

He wasn't really supposed to have a spot on the team in East Lansing. At times, it didn't look like it would necessarily work out. Alas, Cooper never stepped into the portal. He was rewarded with a starting job as a senior, and he took full advantage of it.

Senior year Cooper looked unrecognizable (in a great way) compared to his freshman self. He's more athletic, moves laterally better, has a reliable jump shot and jump hook, and is also a much better rebounder. Cooper averaged 11.1 points and 7.1 rebounds while starting all 35 games.

Cooper's Message

On Thursday, Cooper posted a message on social media to Michigan State fans everywhere to express his thanks for the four years he had.

"Spartan Nation, I'm just a kid from Jackson, Michigan that got to live out a dream," Cooper wrote. "Four years after I committed to Michigan State, I'm leaving as part of the Spartan family."

"Coming to Michigan State and being a part of the men's basketball team, being a student here and being part of this great University was the best decision I've ever made."

"The memories I've made here will be with me forever."

"From MSU Madness to crowd-surfing at the Izzone Campout, to hearing 'Cooooopp' when my name was introduced and to the energy our fans brought to the Breslin Center every game, there is no better place to play college basketball."

"To our fans and alumni, you showed me how important this University is to the 500,000 living alumni. Every game, home or away, you showed up and supported us. A lot of schools don't have that type of support. We do."

"I thank you all for all of your support these last four years. I may have come here as a kid from Jackson, but I'm leaving as a Spartan. Forever."

MSU Retains Talent

Cooper and fellow MSU senior Jaxon Kohler were just two of 22 scholarship-level seniors at high-major programs who stuck it out for four years at the same program, according to CBS's Isaac Trotter. The Big Ten, a conference with 18 teams, had the most of the five major conferences (Big 12, Big East, SEC, ACC), and it had only 10.

That's why stories like Cooper's are still important in the transfer portal era. It would have been difficult to see him have the career he did if he had chosen Eastern Michigan, Vermont, American, or Duquesne, his other offers besides Michigan State.

Maybe he would've gotten more playing time if he transferred to a mid-major program after getting 6.6 minutes per game as a freshman. Cooper opted for the long game instead, and Spartan fans should be grateful for that.