Michigan
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.
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Michigan
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Michigan
Michigan to see snow, rain Monday ahead of warming temperatures
Several inches of snow in the forecast
Southeast Michigan is expected to get 1-3 inches in most areas, with some cities potentially receiving less accumulation as a result of mixed precipitation.
Fox – 2 Detroit
Several inches of wet snow are expected accumulate across parts of Michigan through Monday night, according to the National Weather Service, with some areas possibly experiencing more than 6 inches of accumulation of wet snow.
While the southern Lower Peninsula is expected to receive a mix of rain and snow early in the week, the highest snowfall totals are expected north of M-46.
Christmas Day, however, could look a little different, according to the NWS office in Detroit/Pontiac, as warmer weather moves in and rain by the weekend.
With lake effect snow, western Michigan could experience accumulation Monday with 2 to 4 inches of snow with temperatures in the high 30s.
Roads could become slippery and messy early this week, and NWS offices across the state are encouraging Michiganders to leave extra travel time for commutes.
How much snow is expected in west Michigan?
The National Weather Service in Grand Rapids issued a winter weather advisory through Monday.
“Low pressure will bring snow and mixed precipitation today with 2 to 4 inches of snow north of I-96 and snow, sleet and freezing rain to the south. Highs will be in the lower 30s,” the weather service said. “Wintry weather today will feature a mix of sleet, snow, and freezing rain across southern Lower Michigan, while 2 to 4 inches of snow is expected in central and northern Lower Michigan. The precipitation will taper off to snow flurries this evening.”
Northern Michigan expected to see gradual warming before Christmas
A winter weather advisory is in effect for northern Michigan and parts of the UP today, the National Weather Service in Gaylord said.
“Snow will continue to spread across the area this morning. Heavier, wet snow will be seen over eastern upper for this mornings commute. This heavier, west snow will show up over northern lower a few hours later — more around the mid-morning hours. Drive carefully today, as wet snow leads to slushy and slipper roads,” the weather service said.
After today, the National Weather Service in Gaylord is predicting a warmer Christmas this year.
“Skies will be mostly cloudy for the majority of the week with temperatures becoming mild, said the weather service in a statement on X.
Northern Michigan could see a clipper system
Areas in Northern Michigan could see wet snowfall today, thanks to lake effect snow off Lake Michigan and a clipper system, an area of low pressure that usually forms in the southern provinces of Canada, and quickly drops southeast into the eastern U.S., bringing a shot of cold, arctic air with it.
The National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather outlook for Monday.
“A system moving through the Great Lakes will produce widespread light, wet snow today across south central Upper Michigan,” the weather service said.
Expected snowfall through Dec. 24
In the Lower Peninsula, the weather service predicted lower snowfall totals for areas farther south. Here’s a look at some expectations:
- Detroit: 1 inch
- Grand Rapids: 1 inch
- Big Rapids: 2 inches
- Cadillac: 6 inches
- Clare: 4 inches
- Bad Axe: 6 inches
- Kalamazoo: 1 inch
- Muskegon: 1 inch
- Lansing: 1 inch
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.
Michigan
Michigan 89-58 Purdue Fort Wayne (Dec 22, 2024) Game Recap – ESPN
DETROIT — — Tre Donaldson had 16 points and six rebounds to lead No. 24 Michigan to a lopsided 89-58 victory over Purdue-Fort Wayne at the Crisler Center on Sunday.
Michigan (9-3) needed less than 15 minutes to take a 20-point lead and led by 30 in the first minute of the second half. Vladislav Goldin added 13 points for the Wolverines, who had five players in double figures. Danny Wolf had four points, 13 rebounds and five assists.
Jalen Jackson led all scorers with 27 points for the Mastodons (9-5), but Purdue-Fort Wayne didn’t have another scorer with more than six points.
Mastodons: Forward Eric Mulder, who came into the game shooting 83.7% (46-55) on 2-pointers, made his only shot before leaving the game late in the first half with an ankle injury.
Wolverines: Michigan had gone 1-2 in its past three games with all three decided by two or fewer points. After beating Iowa 85-83 on Dec. 7, they lost 89-87 to Arkansas and 87-86 to No. 14 Oklahoma.
Michigan didn’t waste any time taking control of the game, taking a 23-4 lead in the first eight minutes. Eight Wolverines scored as they hit nine of their first 11 shots while holding the Mastodons to 2-12 (16.7%).
Michigan coach Dusty May rotated his lineup throughout runs of 7-0 and 13-0, using 10 players in the stretch.
Michigan shot 75% (9-12) on 3-pointers in the first half while Purdue-Fort Wayne went 2-17 (11.8%). Sam Walters missed two of his four attempts while his teammates made 7 of 8.
Quinton Morton-Richardson (1-7) and Rasheed Bello (0-3) combined to shoot 10% from the 3-point line and 1-13 (7.7%) overall in the half.
Both teams return to action on Dec. 29. The Mastodons have a Horizon League game at Green Bay while Michigan hosts Western Kentucky.
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