Earlier today, it was announced that Michigan State Men’s Basketball freshman Rocket Watts was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week after impressive performances in the Spartans wins against Ohio State and Penn State. Just a few hours later, he was named to the Big Ten Men’s Basketball All-Freshman Team.
The Big Ten Basketball All-Freshman Team is voted on by Big Ten coaches.
Watts only averaged 9 points per game this season, but he had some huge scoring outbursts starting in February. In the last four games of the season, where MSU ran the table and won out on their way to winning a share of the Big Ten Title, Watts had 21, 13, 18, and 19 points in those four games.
In addition to the scoring he provided late in the season, he also excelled as a secondary ball-handler, acting as one of the few players on the team aside from Winston and Aaron Henry who could effectively break down defenses off the dribble. His on-ball defense also allowed him to take the tougher backcourt covers for Cassius, providing some much-needed relief for the star point guard.
Here is the 2020 Big Ten Men’s Basketball All-Freshman Team:
- Kofi Cockburn, Illinois
- Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana
- CJ Frederick, Iowa
- Franz Wagner, Michigan
- Rocket Watts, Michigan State
