A big-time name now over the past few years, it is impressive to see a guy like Cassius Winston improve as the years have progressed. With some guards that aren’t as gifted athletically like some others, a young resume can turn obsolete as many others catch up to them during their upperclassmen years. That wasn’t the case for the Detroit native as the 6-foot floor general had one of the better summers on the travel circuit and saw a priority recruitment because of it.

Over the past three years, many have believed that Winston would end up at either Michigan or Michigan State. While the Wolverines stepped in late and picked up their own point guard two weeks ago in Xavier Simpson, it still wasn’t a cake walk for the Spartans as they beat out Stanford and Pittsburgh for the services of the in-state recruit.

Tom Izzo has had great success in keeping the top talent with its state borders and with just one point guard on the Big 10 program’s roster next season, Winston should be someone that steps in and immediately contributes with his tough playmaking skills, to go along with his mature, heady approach in running things in the backcourt.

Suiting up for the The Family on the Nike EYBL circuit this past summer, Winston was more than productive, though he suffered a broken wrist during the middle of the travel season. The lead guard put up a ton of points on the scoreboard and in a very efficient manner as he converted on nearly half of his perimeter attempts and averaged close to 22 points, six rebounds, and five assists per game. Throw in his two-plus steals per game and what Michigan State received on Friday is a killer, two-way producer who is fearless on the hardwood and should be someone that carries the baton another few years for Izzo and his program.

The third commit in the Spartans 2016 recruiting class as Nick Ward, a big man out of Ohio, and Josh Langford, an ideal wing-type that should fit quite nicely in East Lansing, should all bring quality production over the long haul. While the highly successful bunch is still tracking Miles Bridges, a top-10 recruit who is down to Indiana, Kentucky, and the Spartans, regardless of where the Flint native does call home, it seems as if this is the Spartans’ best class since the 2012 haul, one that brought in Denzel Valentine, Gary Harris, and Matt Costello.