Izzo gets his point guard

DETROIT - Tom Izzo added an elite point guard on Friday with the commitment of University of Detroit Jesuit star Cassius Winston.

Winston, who has had a scholarship offer from Michigan State since the summer before his sophomore year in high school, selected the Spartans over finalists Stanford and Pittsburgh. The No. 28 ranked player in the 2016 Rivals150 announced his decision during a pep rally at his high school.

"Just the atmosphere," Winston said explaining his choice. "They play as a family, they play together. They're trying to win games. They want to win a national championship. Those are the goals that I have for myself."

Winston's visit to Michigan State last weekend clinched a commmitment for the Spartans.

"Right after that vist, I realized that this is the place for me," he said. "This is the place I want go."

Winston is the third commitment for Michigan State in the class of 2016. He joins Rivals150 shooting guard Joshua Langford (No. 18) and Rivals150 power forward Nick Ward (No. 46) in an impressive Spartan recruiting class.

"I think Cassius fits right in at Michigan State," Rivals analyst Eric Bossi said. "To have him, Josh Langford and Nick Ward already locked up is a huge luxury for Tom Izzo and his staff. "Obviously there are still a couple of huge names out there in Miles Bridges and Josh Jackson but regardless of what happens with those guys, the Spartans have already locked up an outstanding recruiting class."

Winston averaged 19.1 points, 5.2 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.0 steals in 14 games in the Nike EYBL with Detroit-based The Family during the grassroots season.

"I think most people would first point out that Cassius is a winner," Bossi said. "After that they would probably point out his leadership and competitive spirit. He's got such strong intangibles that it can be easy to overlook the other aspects of his game that make him so good. I think he elevates the play of those around him, makes clutch shots and delivers the ball where it needs to be delivered. There are other guys who might be bigger, more athletic or more dangerous shooters, but his blend of skill and things that you just either have or don't have when it comes to intangibles make him a terrific college point guard prospect."

Winston's offer list included Michigan State, Michigan, Pittsburgh, Harvard, Colorado, Iowa, Iowa State, Maryland, UMass, and Ohio State.

Winston trimmed his list to Michigan State, Michigan, Pitt, Harvard and Stanford in July.

Landing Winston could help Michigan State in the recruitment of Bridges, the No. 11 ranked player in the Class of 2016. Winston and Bridges were teammates with The Family last summer. Both players took official visits to Michigan State last weekend.

Bridges, a flint native, named Michigan State, Kentucky, and Indiana as finalists earlier this week. The Huntington Prep star will announce his college choice on Oct. 3.