Spartan Hoopla: Michigan State's Durrell Summers Could Be NBA-Bound

Michigan State's dream-run to the Final Four in Indianapolis just came to end Saturday against Butler, and there are already talks surrounding Tom Izzo's 6'4" junior Durrell Summers foregoing his senior year and declaring for June 24's NBA Draft.

Summers' stellar play and on-floor leadership were key to the Spartans' magnificent NCAA Tournament showing, but according to sources; the Detroit native is weighing his professional options.

Spartan fans have heard these types of talks before. After last April's bitter 89-72 defeat in the national championship game at Detroit's Ford Field to Roy Williams' North Carolina Tar Heels, the rumor mills churned out reports that Summers was off to the league.

Of course, the shooting-guard stayed put and deflected the claims, but after a tumultuous season with coach Izzo; this year's rumors have the potential to become fact.

It's no secret that Izzo and Summers had their differences in 2010. Summers has said that Izzo rode him hard, but credited his coach's heavy-handed disciplinary approach as prime motivation to his success.

Will his up and down relationship with the fiery Spartan coach serve as cause to leave East Lansing?

Or could it simply be that Summers feels that he is ready for the next level?

Summers is long, lean and has improved his touch since last season—the positive adjustment has the former Redford Covenant star NBA-ready. He could easily be plucked late in the first round of June 24's festivities, or possibly fall to early in the second.

According to NBA Draft analysts, he's a "bubble first-round pick." Summers has the talent and body-type to be a first-rounder, but perhaps staying grounded at Michigan State and playing his senior year could heighten his draft stock.

West Virginia's senior forward Da'Sean Butler suffered a horrific knee injury against Duke in the Final Four, and that raised serious doubts regarding his draft potential.

Unfortunately, Butler's current story is one that has been told too many times—A player injured in the prime of his career and sudden doubt of an NBA career looming overhead.

Would skipping out on his senior season and dodging a potential career-threatening injury be the wise choice for Summers?

If he stays; he could be one of the only Spartans to reach the Final Four three times. That would cement his legacy as one of MSU's all-time greats.

He's the only one with the answers.

Don't expect any hasty decisions on Summers' part. The choice to make himself eligible for the NBA Draft will be one that his coach will undoubtedly be involved in.

Summers can decide to make the jump to the big leagues and still remain college-eligible—if he doesn't hire an agent.

Only time will tell.

As seen on Barking Carnival's "Sparty On" blog (Adam Biggers).