Michigan State University Athletics
Men’s Basketball Adds Rocket Watts on National Signing Day
4/17/2019 12:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball
East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State's men's basketball team has received a signed National Letter of Intent from Mark "Rocket" Watts Jr. (Detroit, Mich./SPIRE Academy [Ohio]).
Watts is the second signed recruit for the Spartans, joining Malik Hall (Aurora, Ill./Sunrise Christian Academy [Kan.]), who signed in the Fall.
Mark "Rocket" Watts Jr. (6-3, 180, Detroit, Mich./SPIRE Academy [Ohio])
A Michigan native, Watts transferred from Old Redford Academy in Detroit to SPIRE Academy in Ohio for his senior year … Scored 64 points, hitting 15 3-pointers, in a win over St. Edward (Ohio) for SPIRE … A three-time Associated Press all-state first team selection … As a junior, he averaged 26.8 points, 6.0 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game in leading his team to the regional championship game … A Detroit News First Team All-Area selection … A USA Today 2018 All-Michigan second team selection ... Ranked No. 27 in the ESPN 100 for the 2019 class … Ranked No. 6 in the country among point guards … As a sophomore, he averaged 25.6 points, 6.2 assists and 2.8 steals … Earned Detroit News Second Team All-Area honors … Averaged 14.1 points and led Allen Academy to a 19-3 record as a freshman … Played for the United States U-18 team at the 2018 FIBA Under-18 Americas Championship, helping lead his team to a goal medal, averaging 6.8 points and 2.5 assists per game.
"He's had an incredible year playing at his prep school this year, but he's a guy who gives us a 6-3, solid, strong, very athletic body that can play multiple positions, some one, some two, some three and we think he's got a chance defensively to be very good," Izzo said. "He has had great coaching with Craig Covington at Old Redford and Jermaine Jackson, who played at this level and has played in the NBA.
"We think he serves us because his strength, his athleticism, his size and his shooting ability are a rare combination that few people have. He's a very competitive kid, a tough kid, an athletic kid who can shoot it from long, long range. He's a very exciting sign for us this year."
Watts is the second signed recruit for the Spartans, joining Malik Hall (Aurora, Ill./Sunrise Christian Academy [Kan.]), who signed in the Fall.
Mark "Rocket" Watts Jr. (6-3, 180, Detroit, Mich./SPIRE Academy [Ohio])
A Michigan native, Watts transferred from Old Redford Academy in Detroit to SPIRE Academy in Ohio for his senior year … Scored 64 points, hitting 15 3-pointers, in a win over St. Edward (Ohio) for SPIRE … A three-time Associated Press all-state first team selection … As a junior, he averaged 26.8 points, 6.0 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game in leading his team to the regional championship game … A Detroit News First Team All-Area selection … A USA Today 2018 All-Michigan second team selection ... Ranked No. 27 in the ESPN 100 for the 2019 class … Ranked No. 6 in the country among point guards … As a sophomore, he averaged 25.6 points, 6.2 assists and 2.8 steals … Earned Detroit News Second Team All-Area honors … Averaged 14.1 points and led Allen Academy to a 19-3 record as a freshman … Played for the United States U-18 team at the 2018 FIBA Under-18 Americas Championship, helping lead his team to a goal medal, averaging 6.8 points and 2.5 assists per game.
"He's had an incredible year playing at his prep school this year, but he's a guy who gives us a 6-3, solid, strong, very athletic body that can play multiple positions, some one, some two, some three and we think he's got a chance defensively to be very good," Izzo said. "He has had great coaching with Craig Covington at Old Redford and Jermaine Jackson, who played at this level and has played in the NBA.
"We think he serves us because his strength, his athleticism, his size and his shooting ability are a rare combination that few people have. He's a very competitive kid, a tough kid, an athletic kid who can shoot it from long, long range. He's a very exciting sign for us this year."
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