Spartans Dominate MSU All-Everything Team

Over the last decade Michigan State basketball and head coach Tom Izzo have turned out countless talents in the college game. 

This talent, sadly, has rarely translated to the NBA and forced many of the superior athletes from MSU to forego basketball as a career or cross the Atlantic to Europe. 

This team will be made up of currently active Spartans, wherever they may be in the world at the moment. Many former Spartans are superior athletes with speed, quickness, and long distance scoring abilities.

I'll do my best to keep it to the 15-man Roster Limit. A couple of players might need to go on the IR. 

Starters

Drew Neitzel

Point Guard, 6-foot, Artland Dragons

It was a mild surprise when Neitzel wasn't taken in the draft. The combo guard has moved onto Germany to continue his football career. 

Neitzel gets the nod over Eric Snow and Mateen Cleaves at the point due to his bounding energy and high-scoring abilities. He can spot up and hit the trey better than many "points" and truly adds, with excellent floor vision, a fifth true scorer on the floor. 

Morris Peterson

Guard/Forward, 6'7", New Orleans Hornets

An All-American and National Champion at Michigan State was taken in the first round of the draft by Toronto and has comparable leadership and dedication skills to Cleaves.

Peterson has put up 38 points in a game in the NBA, and has averaged a steady 11.5 points per game in his career without having to be a go-to guy. He has excellent floor vision, which means the team will be full of playmakers.

Jason Richardson

Guard/Forward, 6'6", Charlotte Bobcats

An explosive basketball player who has been criticized for his selfish play. But on a team of former teammates and fellow Spartans, the flashy, high-flying Richardson will be a go-to scorer and can pass the ball when double or triple teamed. 

Richardson has seen a steady 18.8 ppg, 3.2 apg and 5.4 rpg at shooting guard/small forward in his career and will surely go up in this offense, which would run the floor and allow Richardson to show his leaping skills. 

Al Anagonye

Power Forward, 6'10", Los Angeles D-Fenders

Power forward will be the one weak spot on this team in terms of scoring. However, it will be the defensive stalwart that the team will need to keep the low-post clear of a high scorer. 

Anagonye spent five years at Michigan State honing his leadership, defense, and rebounding skills. He will be the anchor for the team that will need a power player on the floor and can alter shots and create second chances. 

Zach Randolph

Forward/Center, 6'9", New York Knicks

Randolph left State after his freshman season and has somehow had quite a bit more success in the NBA than those who left later in their career, even if his coaches haven't exactly liked his style. 

Randolph, similar to Anagonye, will be a stalwart in the post and help guard the powerful forwards that the NBA has to offer. Randolph has career-high averages of 23.6 ppg and 10.5 rpg and can easily match or surpass those playing center on this team. In his final game as a Trail Blazer, Randolph scored 43 points and 17 rebounds, showing his potential. 

Reserves

Eric Snow

Point Guard, 6'3", Cleveland Cavaliers

Snow will provide a veteran leadership to this team that will be absent despite several long-tenured NBA players. 

On this team, Snow will not be called upon to score or rebound, but will provide a strong leadership presence, defense and, like many of the other guards and even forwards on the team, great playmaking skills. 

Paul Davis

Center, 6'11", Los Angeles Clippers

Plenty of knocks can be made about Davis and center surely isn't the strong point on a team of superior athletes, but can score plenty of points.

Davis, on defense, would surely switch matchups with Anagonye and on offense force bigger centers out from the basket for 15-footers. In his senior year at State, he averaged 17.5 ppg, 9.1 rpg and 1.6 apg in a fairly dominant year in the low-post.

Shannon Brown

Combo Guard, 6'4", Charlotte Bobcats

Though he left college a year early and may have hurt his development, he has shown potential in the NBA. As a reserve, Brown as shown he can score in double digits against NBA defenders with his elite quickness. 

At State, Brown showed his versatility often. He can spot up and hit the three ball, drive to the hoop, or dish the ball with the best of them. Brown has spectacular leaping ability and will show off some stunning dunks and rebound over larger forwards. 

Maurice Ager

Guard/Forward, 6'5", New Jersey Nets

Ager, like Brown, is as versatile as they come. He can spot up, as one of the best pure shooters on the team, or run the floor and drive to the hoop for a dunk, or pass it out to another shooter. 

His athleticism will be welcomed off the bench to add a spark whenever the team needs it. 

Charlie Bell

Combo Guard, 6'3", Milwaukee Bucks

Bell went fairly unnoticed for many years, not even staying in the NBA, until two years ago. Bell came onto the scene in Milwaukee scoring 13 ppg, including several games of 30. His playmaking skills are on par with the rest of the team's guards and he brings leadership that allowed the Spartans to reach three Final Fours in his years at MSU.

Mateen Cleaves

Point Guard, 6'2", Bakersfield Jam

Though he has had little success in the NBA, Cleaves will bring leadership that can inspire anyone. His dedication to the team will rub off on the other players and allow the team to come back from any deficit. His defense and playmaking will also be welcomed off the bench. 

Mike Chappell

Guard/Forward, 6'9", Adelaide 36ers

Though he transferred to State from Duke, he still gets on the list. His height and versatility make him a special commodity on the team. He can play the four and still step out and make his defender work. He can step out and hit the three or work for his points down low. 

His knowledge and skills allow Chappell to play four positions and score in high amounts. He has a career high of 44 in the Australian League. 

Alan Anderson

Guard/Forward, 6'6", Triumph Lyubertsy

Anderson, like Chappell, with superior knowledge and athleticism played four positions in college. At the next level, his height will limit him to three, but his ball skills, positioning, shooting, and instincts will make him a valued asset. 

Chris Hill

Guard, 6'3", Bandirma Banvit

Not the prototype MSU guard, as he lacked the speed, athleticism and versatility that the others had. 

On this team, his role would be limited to three-point specialist and occasionally defensive substitute. At MSU, he ran the point and his natural shooting guard spot and ranks second in MSU history with 245 three-point field goals, including 10 in one game versus Syracuse. 

Erazem Lorbek

Forward/Center, 6'11", CSKA Moscow

Very Similar in terms of skills and size to Paul Davis. Left MSU after one season to go back to Europe. He is a prototypical European forward with good shooting, passing and, defensive skills. 

Fairly week rebounding, but that is compensated with the two starting forwards. 

NBDL

Kelvin Torbert

Guard, 6'4", Belgium

Once named High School Player of the Year, but took a step back in college, mostly because of an injury. Had great potential with explosive leaping abilities and great defensive skills. Shooting improved tenfold in college. 

Marcus Taylor

Guard, 6'3", TBB Trier

Combined great ball-handling skills with great shooting to be a great guard. Left State early and ruined any NBA hopes. 

Matt Trannon

Forward, 6'6", He doesn't play basketball

Okay, so he doesn't play basketball, he went for football, but that's still professional sports. 

Despite the fact he's a offensive liability, his defensive presence, hustle, and rebounding are always welcomed on a team.