Goran Suton: Who Is Going To Fill His Shoes In 2009-10?

"Geeeeeeeeeeeeee!".

You could hear it being bellowed from the rafters of the Breslin Center every time he stepped on the court, it was intoxicating. 

Goran Suton's presence on the floor meant much more than 10 points and eight boards per game (2008-09), it meant that Spartan fans would get 100% from one of the hardest working Spartans in recent memory.

Suton epitomized what being a Spartan means.

When Tom Izzo brought the former Lansing Everett (2004 Class A State Champions)star on board at Michigan State, I'm sure he didn't anticipate the magnitude of what Goran would bring to the university's basketball program.

Sure, he led his highschool team to glory the year prior, but did Coach Izzo really think that Goran would end up one of the most beloved Spartans to ever grace the hardwood at the Breslin Center?

I sure didn't.

The look of intensity on Suton's face said it all. To start on an Izzo team, you have to be dedicated, but Suton was beyond that.

Suton was second on the team last year in minutes played, at just about 27 per game, behind Kalin Lucas, who averaged about 32 a contest.

Since Goran's arrival in East Lansing in 2005, Spartan fans were granted the opportunity to see him rapidly develop his skills set year by year.

Whether it was his free throw percentage, just a shade under 85%, which led the team, or his three point shooting, 43.8% (also led team), every facet of Goran's game improved season by season.

Suton ended up leaving East Lansing with a mean mid-range shot as well.

Coach Izzo realized the potential of Suton, endowing him with more playing time, and increasing his leadership role amongst his teammates.

Suton was a rebounding monster, especially defensively. He fought his way to 175 boards on his own end of the court relentlessly, a big reason for the team's success.

Tom Izzo preached rebounding, Goran Suton practiced it.

There were many who thought that Suton was a great college player, but questioned his ability to make it to the next level.

Obviously the Utah Jazz felt different about him.

The Jazz took Goran in the second round, 50th overall, in the 2009 NBA Draft.

There is a void left to be filled in the Spartan line-up, but there's a bright side to this article. The up-side being, the Spartans have potential suitors ready and able to handle the job.

Derrick Nix, Garrick Sherman, Draymond Green, and Delvon Roe all the have the talent to be the next star "Big Man" at MSU.

The recent recruiting of high school phenom, Alex Gauna, has a lot of MSU Basketball fans anticipating the future. Gauna has already been dubbed the next "Goran" by some in the media, exciting those who live, eat, and breathe Spartan Hoops.  

The departure of Suton has left many to ask themselves, "Who will step up and replace G?".

The answer to that question may come sooner than we think.

Michigan State may still be playing exhibition games, but Draymond Green is demonstrating the qualities that Suton possessed.

The ability to fight for rebounds.

Free throws.

These skills, although fundamental parts of any basketball player's game, are of the upmost importance.

Missed free throws, squandered rebounds, both of which that can, and do, make a considerable difference between winning games and losing them.

Draymond will have to crash the boards and sink those freebies in order to help his Spartans return to a second consecutive Final Four, and ultimately, a National Championship game.

"Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!", as most of us will remember him as, has been there and done that.

Draymond, here's to you filling Suton's shoes.

Go Green.