Michigan State basketball: 5 most underrated players in Spartans history

ST LOUIS, MO - MARCH 18: Bryn Forbes #5 of the Michigan State Spartans shoots against Giddy Potts #20 of the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders in the second half during the first round of the 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Scottrade Center on March 18, 2016 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

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Underrated Michigan State basketball players

(Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

3. Eric Snow, G, 1991-1995

The end of the Jud Heathcoate era tends to get forgotten thanks to Michigan State basketball’s run of dominance in the Big Ten. It did provide a few key players to the Spartans’ legacy, including point guard Eric Snow.

After playing limited minutes as a freshman, Snow began assuming more responsibility as his college career went on. Heathcoate let Snow run the offense and he was very efficient, improving his assist totals in each season.

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The highlight of Snow’s Michigan State basketball tenure was his senior year when he averaged 10.8 points per game and 7.8 assists per night. The Spartans went 22-5 to advance to the NCAA Tournament before getting upset in the first round.

Few scouts expected much out of Snow in the NBA and he fell all the way to the second round, where he was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics. Snow defied those expectations by playing 13 years in the NBA, helping two different teams reach the NBA Finals and impressing with his defense.

Michigan State basketball has a history of great point guards so it is easy to forget Snow behind the likes of Johnson, Mateen Cleaves and Cassius Winston. Snow was still a very good Spartan and could easily have fit right in with the great Tom Izzo-led teams of the late 90s.