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Michigan State lands former Cleveland State guard Bryn Forbes

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

Just four days after it was announced that former West Virginia guard Eron Harris would be joining the Michigan State basketball program, head coach Tom Izzo has reportedly landed a second perimeter transfer.

According to Graham Couch of the Lansing State Journal, former Cleveland State guard Bryn Forbes will be making the move to East Lansing as well. Forbes played his high school basketball at Sexton High School in Lansing, Mich., and his move to Michigan State will reunite him with former high school teammate Denzel Valentine.

In two seasons at Cleveland State the 6-foot-3 Forbes averaged 14.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, shooting 43.3% from the field, 40.6% from three and 81.6% from the foul line. As a freshman Forbes earned Horizon League Newcomer of the Year honors, and last season he was a second team All-Horizon League selection.

“We are excited to add Bryn Forbes, a homegrown product, to our roster,” Izzo said in the release sent out by Michigan State. “He was extremely well coached by former Spartan Carlton Valentine at Lansing Sexton, and brings with him the championship attitude that he developed there as he teamed with Denzel Valentine to win back-to-back state championships.

“Bryn enjoyed two great seasons at Cleveland State, but he’s decided to come back closer to home. He brings the ability to shoot the basketball and you can never have enough shooters on your team. Look at some of his best performances, and you can see that they’ve come against top-notch competition, such as scoring 22 points against Kentucky.”

Forbes will have two seasons of eligibility remaining, but the question is whether or not he’ll be able to play immediately.

The Lansing Sexton product will have two years of eligibility remaining. He’ll have to sit out the 2014-15 season, unless he receives a hardship waiver from the NCAA, due to reported medical issues with his sister.

Michigan State lost two key backcourt contributors in starters Keith Appling and Gary Harris, and if Forbes were able to play immediately that would certainly help the Spartans in their quest to make another deep run into the NCAA tournament. Joining Valentine and rising senior Travis Trice on the perimeter are rising sophomore Alvin Ellis III and incoming freshmen Lourawls Nairn and Javon Bess.

In total Michigan State will add five newcomers, with forward Marvin Clark joining a class that consists of three freshman and two Division I transfers.

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