Ex-Michigan State basketball guard Foster Loyer transferring to Davidson
Foster Loyer has a new home.
The former Michigan State basketball captain and Clarkston star announced via Twitter on Thursday he plans to transfer to Davidson. Loyer will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Loyer entered the NCAA transfer portal April 19 after the 6-foot point guard averaged 4.2 points and 2.3 assists in 16.6 minutes a game for the Spartans during their 15-13 season. He shot 29% from the field and 33% from the 3-point line in 19 games, including seven starts. Shoulder surgery ended his season after 19 games.
Three of the four MSU players who entered the portal now have found a new home. Forward Thomas Kithier transferred to Valparaiso, and fellow junior guard Jack Hoiberg headed to Texas-Arlington. Sophomore Rocket Watts remains in the portal but has not announced a destination.
Coach Tom Izzo also is losing forward Aaron Henry, who declared for the NBA draft, and Joshua Langford, who retired from basketball despite having an extra season of eligibility available.
Loyer, the 2018 Michigan Mr. Basketball, never quite lived up to the lofty on-court expectations, but he was voted a team captain before his junior season and was the starting point guard to open the 2020-21 campaign. He started seven games and provided continuity running MSU’s offense, but Loyer struggled to create his own shot and defend his position.
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Davidson, the alma mater of Golden State star Steph Curry, went 13-9 and finished third in the Atlantic 10 in 2020-21. The Wildcats lost to North Carolina State in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament in March and last made the NCAA tournament in 2018.
Loyer is the second Spartan in recent memory to go from captain to leaving the program as a transfer. Russell Byrd left in 2014 to play his final season at the Master's College, an NAIA school in California.
Izzo has two open scholarships open, with point guard Tyson Walker transferring from Northeastern. The Spartans also have a three-guard freshman class coming in: 2021 Michigan Mr. Basketball Pierre Brooks II, five-star shooting guard Max Christie and four-star point guard Jaden Akins.
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Read more on the Michigan State Spartans and sign up for our Spartans newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ex-Michigan State basketball guard Foster Loyer transfers to Davidson
