Michigan State basketball: 5 most underrated players in Spartans history

1. Kevin Willis, C, 1981-1984

Outside of true diehards, it can be easy to forget that Kevin Willis was a Michigan State Spartan. More well-known for his lengthy NBA career, Willis nonetheless made a big impact as a collegian.

Willis joined the Spartans in 1981 after transferring in from Jackson College. Head coach Jud Heathcoate eased Willis into the more advanced competition, making him a regular starter at the end of his first season.

Willis put up his best numbers as a junior, averaging 13.3 points per game and 9.6 rebounds a night. There was a slight dip in Willis’ production as a senior, but it was still enough for him to get drafted by the Atlanta Hawks with the 11th pick in the 1984 draft.

That choice set the stage for an incredible 23-season professional career where Willis was a very productive starter for a long time. Willis hung around as a role player for a while too, picking up a championship ring with the San Antonio Spurs in 2003.

The fact that the Spartans never made the NCAA Tournament with Willis has hurt his legacy at the collegiate level. It shouldn’t take away from the fact that he was still a great Spartan who accomplished a lot with Michigan State basketball.

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