Tom Izzo says A.J. Hoggard won't return to Michigan State next season

A.J. Hoggard has yet to announce what his future plans are beyond the 2023-24 season. 

But Tom Izzo made one thing clear this week: If Hoggard does choose to use his final year of NCAA eligibility, it won’t be at Michigan State. 

Speaking Wednesday on Staudt on Sports on AM-730 in Lansing, Izzo said Hoggard’s time at Michigan State has come to an end. 

“A.J. is looking to make a pro career,” Izzo said. “But he could go back to college, it wouldn’t be here. We have some younger guys and he has exhausted his and he’ll graduate. But I think he’d like to get into pro ball whether it be Europe, whether it be the G League. But nowadays everybody will look at college, too, depending on offers from different places.”

The news doesn’t come as a total surprise considering Izzo hinted a few times over the last few months that Hoggard likely would not be returning. 

Over the weekend, Hoggard indirectly made his intentions of once again trying his luck at professional basketball known when he accepted an invitation to play in the 2024 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, which started Wednesday and ends Sunday. 

Tyson Walker is also at the tournament, which is the first of two NBA pre-draft camps. 

This will be the second consecutive offseason that Hoggard is going through the pre-draft process. Last season, he tried to go pro after helping lead the Spartans to the Sweet 16 in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. He later opted to return to Michigan State for his fourth season. 

Hoggard, 23, had been the Spartans starting point guard for the last two seasons, but he struggled with some inconsistent play as he helped Michigan State to a 20-15 season that ended with a second-round loss to North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament. 

Hoggard averaged 10.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 35 games last season. He also became the seventh Spartan to surpass 1,000 points and 600 assists over the course of career in East Lansing. 

Hoggard will have until May 1 to enter the NCAA transfer portal if he decides he wants to use his final season of college eligibility. Players have to withdraw from the portal or school by May 29 to enter the NBA draft. 

Hoggard’s departure means the metaphorical point guard baton will be passed to either freshman Jeremy Fears Jr. or sophomore Tre Holloman.

mkenney@detroitnews.com

@madkenney