Dion Sims:I Just Couldnt Pass It Up
EAST LANSING - When Tom Izzo opens the door, you walk through it. That's why Dion Sims headed straight from the football building to the Breslin Center, just nine days after playing in the Alamo Bowl.
That doesn't mean that Sims' transition from field to court will be a seamless one. Both he and Izzo understand that expectations are low and the process will be long.
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In the meantime, Sims is just looking to shake off the basketball rust that has accumulated since devoting all of his time to football last August.
"I don't really have any expectations. I just want to come in and do the best that I can, do what I can for the team," Sims said Monday night after his first full practice. "It's going to be a long process but I'm looking forward to it."
Sims (6-5, 265-pounds) averaged just over 12 yards per reception in his freshman football season and had three touchdowns. According to Izzo, it was understood that following football season, the door would be open to him should he want to play basketball. After speaking with Dantonio, Sims decided to go ahead with the decision to play both sports.
"The opportunity was there and I couldn't pass it up," Sims said of his decision to be a two-sport athlete. "It was a big part of my decision (to come to MSU).
"I didn't want to turn back on the decision that I had made and they didn't turn on me. They were honest from day one. I just couldn't pass it up."
Sims, who played forward in high school, averaged 21.9 points and 9.4 rebounds at Orchard Lake St. Mary's - the same high school as current point-guard Kalin Lucas.
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