Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

New addition to Michigan State program granted immediate eligibility

Bryn Forbes, Andrew Harrison

Cleveland State’s Bryn Forbes (2) is pressured by Kentucky’s Andrew Harrison (5) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 25, 2013, in Lexington, Ky. Kentucky won 68-61. (AP Photo/James Crisp)

AP

With guards Keith Appling and Gary Harris and forward Adreian Payne all having moved on, the Michigan State Spartans have some noticeable holes to fill going into the 2014-15 season. The return of players such as forward Branden Dawson and guards Travis Trice and Denzel Valentine will help Tom Izzo moving forward, and on Wednesday the head coach received some good news from the NCAA with regards to guard Bryn Forbes.

Forbes, who played his first two seasons at Cleveland State before deciding to transfer in order to be closer to his family, has been granted immediate eligibility by the NCAA. As a sophomore Forbes averaged 15.6 points and 3.1 rebounds per game and also set a single-season school record with 75 made three-pointers, earning second team All-Horizon League honors.

The addition of Forbes gives Michigan State an experienced player who can knock down perimeter shots, something they can use given the loss of their two best guards from last year’s Elite Eight team.

“This is certainly good news for Bryn,” Izzo said in the release. “Family is very important to Bryn and we are supportive of those obligations. I’d like to thank Jen Smith in our compliance office for all her efforts. Sometimes you look at waiver cases and question the intentions, but if there was ever a case where one seemed to be in order, this is it.

“Bryn is sincere in his desire to be there for his family, and he and I have discussed the work that will be needed to balance that with everything that comes along with being a student-athlete at Michigan State.”

Issues at home, including the health of his sister, impacted Forbes’ decision to transfer with Michigan State being the school he requested permission to speak with as a result. Cleveland State granted the request and in June Forbes made the decision to become a Spartan, rejoining Valentine after the pair won state titles in 2011 and 2012 at Sexton High School (Valentine’s father Carlton is the head coach at Sexton).

“I’m very thankful to the NCAA for allowing me to play this season,” Forbes said in Wednesday’s release. “I also want to thank Coach Waters and the Cleveland State program for being supportive of my desire to return home. My family is extremely important to me and I can’t think of a better situation than being able to play in my hometown.

“This is truly a blessing to me. I’m happy to have this behind me, so that I can focus on balancing basketball, school and family obligations. I just look forward to contributing to the team any way I can.”

Follow @raphiellej