Spartan Hoopla: Kalin Lucas Has NBA Potential, Will He Leave MSU Early?

There's no doubt in any college basketball pundit's mind regarding Kalin Lucas' NBA potential—he has it.

Analysts, fans, and even coaches agree that Lucas has an NBA career in his future.

Indiana coach Tom Crean was quoted after the Hoosiers' (3-10, 9-16) 72-58 loss to No. 11 Michigan State (11-3, 21-6) last night saying, "There is no question he is a next-level player, an All-American, the whole deal."

So that leads us to the ultimate question at hand: Will Izzo's leading scorer (15.7 points per game) stay for his senior year in East Lansing?

An NBA Mock Draft drawn up at the beginning of the season had "Too Easy" going in the first round to either the New Jersey Nets, or possibly to his hometown Detroit Pistons.

Known for its great guards in the past, Lucas would be a nice fit in Mo Town. What kid that grew up in the Detroit Area playing basketball wouldn't jump at the chance to be picked up by the team they watched as a youth?

That very question of Lucas staying or going was raised last April after Sparty was tanked by the North Carolina Tarheels, 89-72, in the National Championship. Lucas' chances at being a first-rounder last season were not as likely as his chances are this year, or even next year, as Lucas' name gains credibility on a game-by-game basis. The 6'1" guard is one of the nation's elite floor leaders and point-men—he has been for two years.

Spartan Nation held its breath awaiting Lucas' answer in 2009, and in the end exhaled in relief—he was coming back to play for Izzo.

In the day and age of the "get it while you can" mentality, college players that see million dollar paychecks in their future have no real incentive to stay in school. Get a degree and become a legend where they play their college ball—or get paid?

To some, it's not even a matter that's up for discussion, they bolt to the NBA only to get cut, ride the pine, or even worse, be demoted to the D-League.

Besides the intense rivalries, possibilities of conference titles, and National Championships—why would a player with the skill of a Kalin Lucas want to risk the possibility of dropping his stock in the NBA Draft?

Lucas is a competitor, that's why.

Players like Lucas hold the accomplishment of winning it all near and dear to their hearts. As long as there is the potential to win a title at MSU, why would he give it up and enter the draft?

Michigan State has arguably one of the best class of recruits coming in next season, so if Izzo's clan doesn't succeed in Indianapolis this year, there's always next season.

Championship contention is the one constant that likely keeps players in East Lansing—Maurice Ager stuck around for the duration of his four year term, and he was a first-round draft pick in 2006 (Dallas Mavericks, 28th overall). The same can be true for Lucas, should he opt to stick around for his fourth and final season as a Spartan.

While skipping out his final, and quite possibly his greatest year under Izzo is unlikely, it's possible. Lucas' name is already en-grained in Spartan lore as one of the elite guards to run the court in the Breslin Center, so why not cement it?