Former Michigan State big Mady Sissoko transferring to California for final year

Mady Sissoko has found a new home for next season.

Sissoko, who was Michigan State’s starting center the past two seasons, announced on his personal Instagram Monday that he’s transferring to California for his fifth and final college season.

Sissoko entered the transfer portal April 4, a few weeks after his challenging fourth season with the Spartans came to an end in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. His new team, Cal, finished 13-19 last season and eighth in the Pac-12.

A 6-foot-9, 250-pound center from Mali, Africa, Sissoko started in 26 of the Michigan State’s 35 games this past season and was the team’s second-best rebounder, averaging 5.1 boards per game. He also posted 3.3 points per contest, down from a season ago when he tallied 5.1 per game. He shot 56.8% from the field and knocked down 70.5% of his free throws. He finished the season a plus-71.

Sissoko had started in all but 10 games over the past two seasons. He came off the bench in the Spartans’ final five games, with coach Tom Izzo turning to sophomore Carson Cooper and freshman Xavier Booker in the starting lineup. Though he didn’t start the game, Sissoko seemed to level up his game and rise to the occasion during the final stretch of the season. He most notably grabbed seven rebounds in 10 minutes while hounding two-time National Player of the Year Zach Edey in the Spartans’ Big Ten Tournament loss to Purdue. Sissoko also had nine rebounds and recorded two points, a block, a steal and an assist in Michigan State’s first-round win over Mississippi State.

The Spartans are expected to return soon-to-be juniors Cooper and Jaxon Kohler as well as Booker next season. Michigan State is also anticipating the arrival of 6-foot-10 forward Jesse McCulloch, a three-star incoming freshman from Cleveland.

Sissoko is one of two Spartans who entered the portal this offseason, joining fellow senior A.J. Hoggard, who has yet to announce where he plans to play next.

Along with those two, Michigan State, which finished 20-15 overall and sixth in the Big Ten, will also see Tyson Walker and Malik Hall go after they exhausted their eligibility.

The Spartans have one scholarship spot remaining after Michigan State picked up Omaha transfer Frankie Fidler, who’s coming off a standout junior season in the Summit League Conference.

Players have until Wednesday to take advantage of this current portal window.

mkenney@detroitnews.com

@madkenney