"Love Tom Izzo to this day": Former Kentucky star Devin Booker discusses nearly committing to play basketball for Michigan State University

Devin Booker did not have a long college career as he declared for the 2015 NBA draft after just one season with the Kentucky Wildcats. He is one of John Calipari's famous recruits in the long list of NBA stars he helped nurture.

However, in an episode of D'Angelo Russell's 'The BackYard Podcast', Booker revealed that he could have had a very different history.

“Not until the end. I was going to Michigan State. That's where all my childhood homies went. Love Izzo to this day.”

Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Devin Booker is a longtime lover of the program. A year into his high school program, the guard's parents decided to move him to his father's place in Moss Point, Mississippi. Regretting this decision, he said in a 2021 interview with 247 Sports:

"You learn by living through experiences and I would've lived a totally different lifestyle if I stayed in Michigan. I love Michigan. I go back there in the summertime and I spend a lot of time out there.

"Me and my friends were just talking about it ... (if there) was any other place I'd rather be than in the Finals, it would be on Lake Michigan, probably."

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A look at Devin Booker's college stats

Devin Booker was a one-and-done prospect who averaged 10.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game while coming off the bench. He made 47% of his shots from the field including 41.1% from 3-point range.

In a stacked Kentucky roster, Booker stood out and won the 2014-15 SEC All-Freshman. He was also named the 2014-15 SEC Sixth Man of the Year. He was teammates with the No. 1 pick, Karl Anthony Towns and the two are the most successful players from the 2015 draft class.

Devin Booker helped Kentucky to a 38-1 record and its only loss came during the March Madness run when Wisconsin defeated the Wildcats in the Final Four. Since being selected into the NBA by the Phoenix Suns, Booker has helped the franchise to a similar successful run. They came close to a championship in 2021 before they lost it to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Right now, Devin Booker is in Paris for the Summer Olympics, helping Team USA with their quest for gold. Once again, he is in an incredibly talented roster of future NBA Hall of Famers but has already made his mark, coming off the bench.

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