Tom Izzo understood two of Michigan State’s portal losses but ‘surprised’ by the other
- Published: Apr. 16, 2025, 5:13 p.m.
EAST LANSING – Tom Izzo expected to lose players to transfer.
Coming off a 30-win season, Big Ten title and run to the Elite Eight, the Michigan State coach had a trio leave for the portal this month.
“I completely understood two of them,” Izzo said during a lengthy press conference on Wednesday afternoon. “The third one I didn’t understand as much but I respect it.”
Sophomore forward Xavier Booker and redshirt freshman guard Gehrig Normand leaving were not surprising given how the season unfolded. Junior guard and co-captain Tre Holloman bolting was not what Izzo anticipated.
“In Tre, I was surprised, it was a little bit of a surprise but Tre wanted some things too,” Izzo said. “He wanted to play a certain position, wanted to do certain things.”
Holloman put his name in the portal less than 48 hours after the Spartans lost to Auburn in Atlanta with a spot in the Final Four on the line. The 6-foot-2 part-time starter averaged a career-high 9.1 points and 3.7 assists while making 16 starts in 37 games this season and on Sunday announced his commitment to NC State.
“I talked to him, he talked to me,” Izzo said, “we went over it and that’s kind of the way it is.”
Izzo said all three players met with him before entering the portal, which isn’t the case for a lot of other coaches. His opening statement on Wednesday was nearly 12 minutes long as he bashed an NCAA system created by adults that puts tremendous pressure on players, who are constantly being tampered with by other programs and uncertified agents, with no transparency.
“I also know, know, positively know that people are talking to people all year long,” Izzo said. “If that happens on my staff, people will be gone.”
Booker, a former five-star recruit, had a rocky two seasons in East Lansing attempting to live up to tremendous hype. He averaged 3.7 points and 1.7 rebounds in 27 games as a freshman and opened this season as a starter expected to take a major jump. Booker lost his spot in the starting rotation just three games in but scored in double-digits four straight games, including a career-high 18 in a Dec. 17 win against Oakland in Detroit.
Although Booker appeared to be turning a corner, he reached double figures just once more the rest of the way while his role shrunk. He finished the season averaging 4.7 points and 2.2 rebounds and only got on the floor in one of four NCAA Tournament games, in mop-up duty in an opening-round win against Bryant.
“I failed, I failed,” Izzo said. “I love him, I love Book. The day he came in with his family was a very difficult day for all of us. … I couldn’t get enough out of him. That’s not all his fault, that’s my job, I do get paid for that, and I did not get enough out of him.”
The fit just didn’t work between Izzo and Booker, whose drive and defense were frequently lacking. He’ll stay in the Big Ten after committing to UCLA earlier this month.
“I feel bad about Book because I think deep down there is one hell of a basketball player in there,” Izzo said, “and my job is to get that out of him and I didn’t get that done.”
Normand, a former four-star recruit from Texas, didn’t play while taking a redshirt as a true freshman. A preseason knee injury derailed progress and he was never part of the rotation, scoring eight points while logging only 26 minutes in 13 games. Normand hasn’t announced his transfer destination yet.
“I thought that Gehrig was almost homesick the day he got here and this year I really planned on him playing, then he got injured and you’re away from home,” Izzo said. “He worked his tail off all year. He was on that scout team, he did a phenomenal job. He got a lot better as a basketball player. … He wants to get closer to home, 100 percent.”
In addition to the trio of transfers departing, freshman guard Jase Richardson declared for the NBA draft last week. The Spartans have a pair of incoming recruits in four-star wings Jordan Scott and Cam Ward. Izzo picked up a transfer commitment from Florida Atlantic forward Kaleb Glenn last week and is expected to add more from the portal.
Holloman provided memorable moments this season, including hitting a shot from beyond half-court at the buzzer for a stunning win at Maryland. His departure to the portal triggered a negative reaction from some fans, which Izzo blasted.
“I’m asking you to ask our fans to quite bashing our players on social media if they left to go to another school,” Izzo said, “if they left to go to the NBA. … I’m hoping our Michigan State fans will be different and understand these are unprecedented, crazy times.”
Tom Izzo understood two of Michigan State’s portal losses but ‘surprised’ by the other
Izzo was surprised guard Tre Holloman is transferring out.
www.mlive.com
