Finishing as the runner-up for Darius Adams for the second time this cycle has some Michigan State basketball fans sounding the alarm.
The Spartans saw Tre Holloman, Jaden Akins, and Jase Richardson depart from the backcourt this offseason, leaving only Jeremy Fears Jr. and Kur Teng returning, with newcomer Trey Fort providing additional depth. With just three backcourt options—only one of whom is a true point guard—that’s a concerning scenario.
Fan anxiety is understandable, but Tom Izzo has never been one to stand pat when improvements can be made. He’s still pushing for that elusive second national title.
So, despite missing out on Adams again—this time to Maryland—Izzo appears to be staying active, reportedly targeting a potential transfer to bolster the point guard position.
Top star might not be a familiar name to most Michigan State fans, but the freshman guard from Miami made a modest impact in limited action during his first college season. In 20 minutes per game, he averaged just over five points on an efficient 48% from the field, while also contributing 2.3 assists and 1.9 rebounds, occasionally running the point.
While Ugochukwu doesn’t bring standout size or an elite skill set, he checks the boxes of a capable backup point guard and still has three years of eligibility remaining. On top of that, he’s drawing interest from some reputable programs.
It’s unclear if he’s Tom Izzo’s primary fallback option (likely not), but by contacting Ugochukwu, Izzo is at least exploring smart contingency plans. He may not be Darius Adams, but Ugochukwu could realistically step into a similar role to what Tre Holloman filled—albeit with less shooting prowess.