Keon Coleman Will Not Play Basketball For MSU, Tom Izzo Announces

After additional discussions between Michigan State fooball broad receiver Keon Coleman and head males’s basketball coach Tom Izzo, the pair got here to the mutual choice that Coleman won’t be a part of the Spartans’ basketball staff for the 2022-23 season.

The sophomore broad receiver, who starred as a multi-sport athlete at Opelousas (La.) Catholic Excessive College, performed a complete of 10 minutes throughout six video games for Michigan State males’s basketball final season. Coleman scored 5 factors, had three steals and grabbed a rebound in that restricted taking part in time, however his collegiate basketball profession has probably come to an finish.

“Keon Coleman and I spoke at size this week and we got here to the joint choice that it might be finest for him to concentrate on his soccer profession and never be a part of the basketball staff at the moment,” Izzo mentioned in a launched assertion. “Keon had an important soccer season and it’s in his finest pursuits to take the subsequent few months to prepare for spring soccer, whereas additionally caring for his educational obligations.”

This previous soccer season, Coleman led the Spartans with 58 receptions for 798 yards and 7 touchdowns, making a substantial leap between his freshman and sophomore seasons. With senior Jayden Reed off to the 2023 NFL Draft, Coleman is with out query Michigan State’s prime broad receiver possibility heading into subsequent season.

Izzo, Coleman and head soccer coach Mel Tucker have been in dialogue throughout latest weeks in figuring out what was finest for Coleman’s future. Izzo mentioned MSU broad receiver coach Courtney Hawkins was additionally included in these discussions.

Whereas Michigan State bought Coleman on his capability to dual-sport as a Spartan throughout his highschool recruitment, in the end the group determined that specializing in soccer is what’s finest for the proficient sophomore.

“I can’t thank Mel Tucker sufficient for his help of Keon and our basketball program,” Coleman mentioned. “We recruited Keon collectively for each sports activities, and Mel was behind him making an attempt to be part of each packages. I like Keon and have such nice admiration for him, however I additionally need what’s finest for him and his future. I’m glad we agreed that this was the most effective plan of motion shifting ahead.”