Williams III led the Tigers in scoring and rebounding as a sophomore. Bo Ryan is not going to be pleased.

Multiple sources have told Spartan Tailgate that former Missouri forward Johnathan Williams III is eyeing Michigan State as his next destination. Missouri announced last night that Williams III, a sophomore, will transfer.

Sources claim when Williams III submitted his transfer application, Michigan State was the school he requested to have contact with. Missouri did not stand in the way on that front. It was reported Williams cannot move on to an SEC or Big 12 school, Illinois or Arizona as conditions of the transfer. Now it is a matter of the NCAA deciding if Williams III will be immediately eligible where he lands. NCAA rules state a player that transfers must sit out one season but that can be waived. If it is not, Williams must sit out 2015-16 but would have two years of eligibility remaining.

The Spartans heavily recruited Williams III out of Memphis (Tenn.) Southwind in the 2013 draft cycle. Williams III, ranked then as the nation’s No. 9 power forward in the 247Sports Composite, ultimately chose Missouri over Michigan State and Georgetown, among others. The coach Williams III committed to, Frank Haith, left Missouri for Tulsa last April in a move that stunned the college basketball community.

This past season, the 6-foot-9, 225-pound Williams III led the Missouri in points (11.9) and rebounds (7.1) per game.

