Xavier Booker has moved on, but Tom Izzo still believes in him

EAST LANSING – A year ago, Xavier Booker saw his minutes begin to decline and his role in Tom Izzo’s rotation shrink. They all but vanished during Michigan State basketball’s run to the Elite Eight

The former five-star recruit transferred to UCLA and another demanding coach, Mick Cronin. And now comes a full-circle moment for Booker when the Bruins visit Breslin Center on Tuesday, Feb. 17 (8:30 p.m., Peacock).

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“I do love Xavier. I love the guy. I absolutely love him,” Izzo said during his press conference Monday. “But I can’t love him tomorrow night. I can’t even like him. But that’s just the world we live in – he shouldn’t like me, either. But after, there will be a hug. And after, either way, there will be a phone call.

“And that’s what I live for.”

The 15th-ranked Spartans (20-5, 10-4 Big Ten) host UCLA (17-8, 9-5) to open a two-game homestand.

UCLA Bruins forward Xavier Booker (1) beats Oregon Ducks forward Devon Pryor (22) to the ball for a rebound during the first half at Pauley Pavilion in Los angeles on Dec. 6, 2025.

MARCH TO MARCH MADNESS: Michigan State basketball bracketology: Spartans sliding down S-curves

“It was definitely a little sad,” Booker said to the California Post of leaving MSU. “But we kind of all knew what it was and we all came to an agreement.”

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So far, his time in Inglewood has been similar to his time in East Lansing for the 6-11, 220-pound junior, even though his overall numbers and minutes have gone up.

Booker has continued his roller-coaster career with the Bruins, averaging 7.2 points and 3.7 rebounds while starting 23 of 25 games and averaging 20.3 minutes this season. He’s shooting 41.5% from 3-point range and 55.3% overall. However, those totals dropped in Big Ten action, to 6.2 points and 3.4 rebounds over 18.7 minutes a game. Of his 30 blocks this season, only 13 have come against league foes.

Booker had a stretch in early January in which he did not start at Wisconsin and played just…

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Publish date : 2026-02-16 19:18:00

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