College Basketball: Michigan State vs Michigan

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo watches as his team plays Michigan at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. Michigan beat Michigan State, 79-70, to complete a season sweep of the Spartans. J. Scott Park | MLive.com)

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo has often decried the rise of transfers in college basketball, a trend that's shot upward in recent years. As of mid-April, 325 players had suited up for multiple Division 1 teams, according to the Associated Press, nearly three times as many as a decade ago.

But one member of those expanding ranks could still find his way to East Lansing to play for the Spartans next year.

“I’m really disappointed in it,” Izzo said last week of the rising number of transfers. “But you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do,”

Michigan State still has one scholarship to fill for next season after the departure of Gary Harris, and could have more if Russell Byrd or Alex Gauna decide to leave East Lansing

Izzo said last week on The Game 730 AM in Lansing that the Spartans are planning on filling that spot.

“We’re figuring out whether we want to go big or go small,” Izzo said.

The regular signing period for high school recruits ends May 21, and all of Michigan State’s reported targets have signed letters of intent.

That’s led the Spartans to the transfer market. After missing out on Southern California graduate transfer Byron Wesley, the Spartans are reportedly in the mix for three other transfer candidates.

John Egbunu, a 6-foot-10 center from South Florida, visited East Lansing two weeks ago. He visited Virginia Tech Tuesday, reportedly his last visit, and will decide between the Hokies, Spartans, Florida and Georgetown.

West Virginia guard Eron Harris, has said he's had contact with Michigan State and hopes to visit, and the Spartans have also reportedly shown interest in James Madison transfer Charles Cooke.

But just because Michigan State may sign a transfer for next season doesn’t mean Izzo will stop calling for the system to be reformed.

“It’s a vicious circle, and it’s one of the things I’m very disappointed in our game about to be blunt and honest with you,” Izzo said. “I think we’ve got to find a solution. You wonder why it’s harder to discipline kids nowadays, they’ve got 20 people telling them ‘Well if you don’t like it just leave.

"These guys have done something where they just feel like the smaller programs, if you play well there you’re going to move up or definitely as a fifth-year guy you’re going to leave."

Michigan State taking a transfer for next season would make it a rare year. The Spartans haven’t taken one since Brandon Wood came to Michigan State as a graduate transfer from Valparaiso in 2011.

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