Spartan Profile: Bryn Forbes
2/18/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Matt Bontorin, MSU Athletic Communications
In August of 2013, Bryn Forbes sat idly in his Amsterdam hotel room as the birth of his child was taking place more than 6,000 miles away back home in Michigan. Forbes, a rising sophomore guard at Cleveland State at the time was taking part in the Vikings' European summer trip.
The East Lansing native waited eagerly to hear word of a successful delivery.
"My mom had brought her iPhone into the delivery room," said Forbes. "So I was actually able to watch my son's birth through FaceTime. It was the best moment of my life."
Carter Forbes was born on August 19, healthy and in great hands at Sparrow hospital in Lansing. However, with his father thousands of miles away, Bryn was not the first member of the Lansing Sexton family to hold him. In fact, picture messages lit-up his phone of his best friend and high school teammate, Denzel Valentine, holding baby Carter.
"He didn't even tell me he was going to the hospital," said Forbes. "So when I was getting pictures of him holding Carter, I was shocked. There isn't anyone I'd rather have hold him before me though."
Forbes returned to the U.S. immediately to meet his son, but unfortunately the father-son interaction was short-lived. Just a few days after returning to East Lansing, the prolific shooting guard had to return to Cleveland State for class and his sophomore season.
"That was one of the more difficult times in my life," said Forbes. "That's the most important thing I've got, and to only see him once or twice a month was tough."
Forbes played with a heavy heart his sophomore season and averaged more than 15 points per game for the Vikings. Still, the sophomore could not imagine living away from his young son for any longer and with his sister continuing to battle illness, he started to look at other options.
"It was becoming a little too much, and with my sister being sick I felt like I had to come back for them," said Forbes.
Having grown up in East Lansing, Forbes' goal was always to play for coach Tom Izzo and Michigan State. However, with the limited amount of scholarships during his senior year of high school, Forbes did not receive an offer from Michigan State.
"I always wanted to play for Michigan State," said Forbes. "Being from East Lansing â€" that's what every kid wants. I had to follow a different path though, and eventually it all worked out."
With Gary Harris leaving for the NBA following his sophomore season, there was an open scholarship on the Spartan roster. Forbes had a good two seasons at Cleveland State, but the opportunity to return home was too good to turn down. But he still knew that he might have to sit out the 2014-15 season, depending on the outcome of an NCAA decision on a waiver.
"Sometimes you look at waiver cases and question the intentions, but if there was ever a case where one seemed to be in order, this is it," said Izzo.
The waiver was approved, and Forbes was granted permission to play for the Spartans immediately.
The return to East Lansing was a true homecoming for Forbes. Off the court, he was able to be the family man he always wanted to be, and on the court he would once again suit up next to his best friend, Denzel.
The last time Forbes and Valentine were teammates they went on to win two state titles at Lansing Sexton playing for Valentine's father, Carlton.
"Those were some of the most fun times I've had," said Forbes. "Denzel's dad was a big part of that. He coached us from when we were seven years old until the time we graduated."
The guards' friendship led to immediate cohesion on the court for MSU. Forbes was able to step into a starting role next to Valentine right away and quickly showed why he shot better than 40 percent from 3-point range in Cleveland.
"It was unbelievable to finally be a Spartan," said Forbes. "I used to hate having to come back because I never wanted to leave. To know I was there to stay was a great feeling."
The 2014-15 season had its share of ups and downs, and MSU entered the NCAA Tournament as a No. 7 seed in the East Region holding a 24-11 record.
Despite the relatively low expectations, Forbes and Valentine entered the tournament more confident than ever. Growing up watching Spartan basketball throughout their childhood, the two guards knew just how magical the month of March could be with Coach Izzo at the helm.
Just a few short weeks later, Spartan, fans around the nation rejoiced as Michigan State had upset Virginia, Oklahoma and Louisville and was once again on its way to the Final Four.
"It was that much more special because we had kept hearing over and over again how we were the worst team Izzo had ever had," said Forbes. "We knew we hadn't reached our potential yet."
Forbes finished the Elite Eight game with 14 points, going 4-6 from three-point range. His strong performance was memorable, but what the junior guard remembered most was his video chat with his son Carter on the floor of the Carrier Dome after the game.
"He didn't really understand it," said Forbes. "But I had a good time just sharing my emotions with him, being so happy at that time and getting to see his face."
While Forbes was content with the way his first year went wearing the Green and White, he entered the summer more motivated than ever to help do something Michigan State has not done since 2000 â€" win a National Championship.
"Nobody's done it since Mateen [Cleaves], and whenever they come around it's still huge. To have the same recognition and to go down in history would be an amazing feat."
Forbes emerged from the off-season being recognized by his coaches and teammates as the "MVP" of the summer. The 6-3 guard added nearly 15 pounds of muscle to his frame and worked on becoming a better defender to complement his lethal shooting abilities.
"That was big for me to be in the weight room four or five days a week," said Forbes. "I changed my diet and I had to eat a lot more."
Months into the season, Forbes' effort is already paying off. The senior is shooting better than 45% from three-point range and more importantly, the Spartans are 7-0 when he is the team's leading scorer.
As the season unwinds and the NCAA Tournament draws nearer, Forbes reflected on what it would take for him and his teammates to reach their ultimate goal.
"I think the difference will be our mindset," said Forbes. "We have the talent, but we need to remain focused and ready to make that run."
Regardless of how the season ends, Forbes' homecoming has been everything he thought it could be and more. As a local product, his impact on the team he grew up adoring has been remarkable, but nothing brings the senior joy like being able to be close to his family.
"I get to see my son everyday," said Forbes. "He even comes to the games if it's not too late. A lot of people don't get to see their families at every home game â€" but I do. It's an amazing feeling."
