Michigan

Michigan State basketball’s A.J. Hoggard commits to Portsmouth pre-NBA draft tournament

Published

2 years ago

April 13, 2024

Michigan State basketball’s A.J. Hoggard commits to Portsmouth pre-NBA draft tournament

A.J. Hoggard appears prepared to move on from Michigan State basketball.

The senior point guard has committed to play in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, tourney officials announced Saturday, a move that points to Hoggard turning pro despite having one season of collegiate eligibility remaining. Mady Sissoko, who entered the transfer portal April 4, also bypassed a fifth year at MSU that would’ve been allowed due to an NCAA waiver during the pandemic from their freshman season in 2020-21.

Hoggard tested the NBA draft process after last season but decided to return to the Spartans. He has not made a public announcement as to what his plans are, saying after MSU’s season ended that he was undecided. However, the tournament advised players with an extra season of eligibility remaining for the COVID waiver that accepting one of the 64 spots in the 70th annual pre-NBA draft event “may adversely impact” the ability to return to college.

“Thus, prior to accepting an invitation to participate in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, college players who wish to preserve the option of returning to college for the 2024-25 season should consult with their head coach and the compliance department at their educational institution to discuss how their remaining NCAA eligibility may be impacted by participation in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament,” the tournament’s website says.

Former MSU guard Tyson Walker on Tuesday committed to play in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, which will be held Wednesday through next Saturday in Portsmouth, Virginia.

The early entry deadline for the NBA draft is April 27, though the 23-year-old Hoggard already has completed four years in college. The NCAA’s deadline to withdraw from the NBA draft process and return to school for the 2024-25 season is 10 days after the end of the pre-draft scouting combine, which is scheduled for May 13-19 in Chicago.

A 6-foot-4, 210-pound native of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, Hoggard averaged 10.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists over 28.7 minutes this winter. The Spartans finished 20-15 and ended their season with an 85-69 loss to No. 1 seed North Carolina in the second round of the NCAA tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina. Hoggard went 1-for-10 for three points with four assists, three rebounds and three turnovers in the loss to the Tar Heels.

ANALYSIS: Examining Michigan State basketball’s 2024-25 roster heading into pivotal offseason

Hoggard this winter made 40.7% of his shots overall, 34.7% of his 3-point tries and 78.7% of his free-throw attempts. He also averaged 1.4 steals with 1.8 turnovers, and MSU was a plus-162 in scoring with him on the floor.

As a junior in leading MSU to the Sweet 16 in 2022-23 — the only time the Spartans made it out of the first weekend of the NCAA tournament in Hoggard’s four seasons — he posted 12.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists. In 131 career games for MSU, Hoggard averaged 8.6 points, 4.6 assists and 2.8 rebounds while shooting 41% overall and just 30.3% from 3-point range.

READ MORE: 5 tasks for Tom Izzo and Michigan State basketball this offseason

Even without Hoggard, MSU appears set at point guard next season with freshman Jeremy Fears Jr. and sophomore Tre Holloman returning and Jase Richardson arriving as an incoming freshman. However, Fears is recovering from a December gunshot wound to his left leg and said last month he does not expect to return to full basketball activities until the summer.

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.

Subscribe to the “Spartan Speak” podcast for new episodes weekly on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.

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Michigan

Fox’s Joel Klatt picks winner of Michigan vs. MSU, best bet for the game

Published

12 hours ago

October 23, 2025

Press Room

Fox’s Joel Klatt picks winner of Michigan vs. MSU, best bet for the game

Michigan will enter East Lansing as a sizable favorite over rival Michigan State this weekend. The Wolverines have defeated MSU in the past three contests and Michigan is expected to do the same this weekend. Now, with rivalry games, anything can happen, but there is a clear talent discrepancy.

Michigan knows it has to win out if the Wolverines hope to make the College Football Playoff and MSU has really struggled, losing its last four games.

While Michigan is expected to win the game, who covers the spread? The Wolverines are now a 14.5 point favorite, and Fox analyst Joel Klatt helped break down the game and gave his opinion on the line.

Klatt believes Michigan is going to win this game, but again, it’s a rivalry game, and the Spartans should throw everything at the Wolverines. Jonathan Smith could go deep in the playbook to pull out some trickery. While Klatt sees Michigan winning the game, he thinks Michigan State will cover.

“The only thing for me on the Michigan State side is that this is a kitchen sink type of game. You throw the kitchen sink at Michigan, you’re at home. It’s a rivalry game,” said Klatt.

“And let’s face it, Michigan has not run away from anybody this year. So the 14.5 looks like a big number. The score that I land on is Michigan 30 -17, which means a 13-point win, which means I’m going to take the home points for Michigan State.”

Klatt talked about how Michigan unlocked the ‘Rubik’s Cube’ last weekend against Washington. It was a vintage Michigan win. The Wolverines blocked well, ran the ball hard, and QB Bryce Underwood played as efficiently as he had all season. Andrew Marsh has emerged as a top target for Underwood and the Wolverines’ defense was fantastic.

Michigan State doesn’t do anything well on the defensive end. Run defense is poor and Jordan Marshall could be in store for a big game. While Klatt is correct that MSU could pull out all the stops, Michigan is still the better team.

14.5 points is a lot on the road against a rival, but if the Wolverines play their game, against a struggling MSU defense, Michigan should be able to get it done.

Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
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Michigan small businesses benefit from overseas trade missions

Published

1 day ago

October 22, 2025

Press Room

Michigan small businesses benefit from overseas trade missions

TROY, Mich. (FOX 2) – The backbone of Michigan’s economy has and continues to be manufacturing, which is why two times a year the state sends 10 small businesses overseas only to return with new customers.

Big picture view:

It’s all thanks to Troy’s Automation Alley and it has worked to the tune of $2.3 billion in new business.

This story starts in the middle with, well, the middle man.

“We want to see our children stay here like everybody,” said Tom Kelly, the CEO of Automation Alley. “And we have to create vibrant communities. One of the backbones of Michigan is manufacturing.”

Kelly leads the team at Automation Alley in Troy. Think of them as the bridge that brings Michigan manufacturers directly to the customers.

“There are 12,000 manufacturers in Michigan, we have 4,000 as members,” he said.

He says they have a formula that is proven – and works.

“We take them to these foreign countries, we set up appointments with companies that want to buy their products, and we help them close the deals,” he said. “Since we started, we have generated over $2.3 billion dollars for small manufacturers.”

The two trips coming up with take ten of these small businesses to Querétaro, Mexico in February and Paris, France in June of next year.

“By the way, here’s the kicker, it’s actually subsidized by the State of Michigan,” Kelly said. “So we can cover up to half of your travel expenses on these trade missions because guess what? It’s a huge win for the State of Michigan if you become a net exporter of your product to other countries.”

For those who may be thinking this is only a free trip – think again. Automation Alley has been putting on these trade missions for years.

“We have the relationships, we know who they should be meeting with, and people are people all over the world,” Kelly said.

Those relationships usually lead to lasting relationships, he added.

Automation Alley is an non-profit funded through donor businesses who know the value of Michigan manufacturing.

While the trade missions are important, it’s not all the only thing that happens here.

“Trade missions are only twice a year,” Kelly said. “We have programming all year long that helps you understand Artificial Intelligence, help you make a choice on what robot should I buy. What kind of systems do I need to consider, what are my peers doing in manufacturing that I can emulate and be successful like them.

“All of these things are available free of charge to all 12,000 manufactures in the State of Michigan.”

If you’d like to find out how to sign up your business to take advantage of the trade missions or other programs, just visit automationalley.com

The Source: Information for this report is from an interview with Tom Kelly, the CEO of Automation Alley.

Small BusinessTroyMichigan

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Warren mayor says running Michigan’s 3rd-largest city full of ‘challenges and surprises’

Published

2 days ago

October 22, 2025

Press Room

Warren mayor says running Michigan’s 3rd-largest city full of ‘challenges and surprises’

Warren ― Warren Mayor Lori Stone touted the city’s new defense alliance with Sterling Heights, infrastructure improvements and progress in constructing affordable housing, among other achievements, in her annual State of the City address Tuesday evening.

Stone mentioned the Arsenal Alliance, a regional economic development partnership that is focused on supporting and expanding the multi-billion-dollar defense industry in the two Macomb County cities. The Sterling Heights and Warren city councils approved the partnership in April.

“We are stronger together in growing military and defense assets, providing opportunities for manufacturing to adapt to a changing mobility landscape,” she said.

Stone, who was elected mayor in November 2023, gave her second State of the City address on Tuesday to a crowd of over 100 people at the Warren Community Center Auditorium. She shared the city’s achievements from the past year in economic development, infrastructure, parks and recreation, and other areas.

“Leading the third largest city in Michigan has brought me many joyful and jubilant experiences,” she said, “and it has also brought challenges and surprises.”

In the area of housing, Stone said Baker & Associates Realty Group LLC has broken ground on a project to construct modular housing west of Van Dyke Avenue and north of Toepfer Road. The city is also working with developers on more than 700 workforce housing units, the mayor said.

Stone also said that the city has 31 boards and commissions, such as the Animal Welfare Commission and Senior Health Care Commission. She noted that the city has filled 15 of these bodies completely and still has openings on 16 of them. She asked members of the public to serve on these boards and commissions.

Councilman Jonathan Lafferty was perplexed by the mayor’s decision to highlight vacancies on city boards two years into her first term, arguing that it is “not a success.”

“You don’t highlight the failure to appoint your boards and commissions and your appointees in your administration. You’re two years in,” he said. “This should have been done in the first 90 days. This is not a success.”

Lafferty also said the speech was Stone’s second opportunity to “provide a bold and decisive vision for the city.” He said a State of the City should laud the city’s successes and “chart the vision ahead.”

“Where are we going as a city? How are we going to compete … in the next generation? How are we going to attract businesses for an economically diverse future?” he said. “The speech completely lacked all of those essential elements.”

In an interview after her speech, Stone said one of her goals for the year ahead is the start of the city’s parks and recreation master plan. The plan will look at how the city manages its parks and recreation centers, what programming is available and what is needed, she said.

Defense sector

Warren has the Detroit Arsenal, which is home to U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM). Stone said after the speech that there are communities that are “prepared to compete to attract the Detroit Arsenal away from Warren.”

Warren and Sterling Heights are each contributing $250,000 annually to the Arsenal Alliance initiative.

“By paying attention, by advocating, by fighting for and expanding on the ability to draw down federal funds, it grows our economy, and it lets people know, ‘Back off,” Stone said. “‘Detroit Arsenal, it belongs here in Metro Detroit.’”

Infrastructure

Stone touted the city’s new Stephens Road Detention Basin during her address. The city held a ceremonial ribbon-cutting and plaque dedication in February for the $37.5 million basin, which city officials say will reduce basement flooding and result in fewer sewage discharges into the Red Run Drain.

After playing a video showing the basin being built, Stone said, “Warren, we did that. We did that,” leading to applause from the audience.

She also praised the fact that the city secured a $100 million low-interest loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for a project to replace the city’s aging sludge incinerator.

asnabes@detroitnews.com

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