2014-15 Men's Basketball Roster
Roster
Valentine, Denzel
F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
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/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG/F
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/ Men's Basketball
Jersey Number 45
Denzel Valentine
- Position:
- G
- Height:
- 6-5
- Weight:
- 220
- Class:
- Junior
- Hometown:
- Lansing, Mich.
- High School:
- Sexton
Bio
• Career Stats
• 2012-13 Game-by-Game Stats
• 2013-14 Game-by-Game Stats
• 2014-15 Game-by-Game Stats
• 2015-16 Game-by-Game Stats
THE WORD
Seven career double-doubles · Ranks tied for seventh in MSU history with 161 made 3-pointers · Strong candidate for Big Ten Player of the Year and All-America honors · Tremendous leadership skills · Among the most versatile players in college basketball, he was the only player to rank in the Top 15 in the Big Ten in scoring, rebounding and assists in 2014-15 · Possesses a high basketball IQ and excellent passing skills that allow him to be a playmaker in the open court, as well as the half court · One of the better rebounding guards to ever play for Tom Izzo · Has constantly improved as a shooter, becoming one of the best in the Big Ten · Strong defender · Second-generation Spartan that embraces the Michigan State tradition. 2014-15
Co-Team MVP (Media Vote) · Third Team All-Big Ten · Tri-Captain · USBWA All-District V · MSU Most Improved Player · Co-recipient of MSU's Antonio Smith Glue and Guts Award · NCAA East Regional All-Tournament Team · Only player in the Big Ten to rank in the Top 15 in scoring (12th, 14.5 ppg), rebounding (11th, 6.3 rpg) and assists (7th, 4.3 apg) · Also ranked in the Top 15 in conference games in scoring (12th, 14,6 ppg), rebounding (t-7th, 6.6 rpg) and assists (7th, 4.1 apg) · Ranked second on the team in scoring, rebounding and assists · Only Spartan to start all 39 games · Became the 48th player in MSU history to score 1,000 career points during his 18-point effort against Oklahoma (3/27) in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 · Ranked fifth in the Big Ten in 3-point field-goal percentage (.416) and second in 3-point field goals made (2.6) · Ranked third in the Big Ten in 3-point field goals made (2.6) in Big Ten games · Ranked eighth in the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover ratio overall (1.8) and 10th in Big Ten games (1.9) · Turned in the third-best single-season total for made 3-pointers in MSU history (102) · Led the Spartans with a .826 free-throw percentage, including .857 in the NCAA Tournament · Scored in double figures in 29 contests, including eight games with 20 points or more · Led MSU in scoring in 16 games, in assists in 19 contests and in rebounding seven times · Scored a season-high 27 points vs. Minnesota (2/26), including knocking down 7-of-12 3-pointers · Other top-scoring efforts include 25 points vs. Marquette (11/28), knocking down six 3-pointers and 25 points vs. Michigan (2/1), adding seven rebounds and seven assists against the Wolverines · Led MSU with 23 points against Ohio State (3/13) in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals · Scored 22 points vs. Duke (4/4) in the Final Four · Tallied 22 points at Notre Dame (12/3) · Recorded three double-doubles, ranking second on the team, including games against Santa Clara (11/24; 13 pts., 11 reb.), Nebraska (1/24; 21 pts., 11 reb.) and Duke (4/4; 22 pts., 11 reb.) · Grabbed seven or more rebounds in 17 games, including eight games with eight or more boards · Recorded a season-high 11 rebounds against both Santa Clara (11/24) and Nebraska (1/24) · Dished out six or more assists in 16 games, including eight contests with seven or more · Recorded a season-high eight assists against Arkansas-Pine Bluff (12/6), Eastern Michigan (12/17) and Northwestern (2/10) · Averaged 15.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists in the NCAA Tournament · Third on the team with 35 steals · Earned a spot on the Orlando Classic All-Tournament Team, averaging 19.3 points and 5.0 rebounds in three games. 2013-14
Appeared in 38 games, starting 33, averaging 8.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 29.4 minutes per contest · Only Spartan to appear in all 38 games, ranking second on the team with 33 starts, and third in minutes per game (29.4 mpg) · Honorable-mention All-Big Ten honoree, as selected by both the league's media and coaches · Recipient of MSU's Unsung Player, Most Improved Player and Inspirational Player Awards, and tri-recipient of the Jumping Johnny Green Chairman of the Boards Award · Started the final 30 games of the season · Ranked second on the squad in assists (3.8 apg), third in rebounds (6.0 rpg) and fifth in scoring (8.0 ppg) · Only player in the Big Ten to rank in the Top 15 in both rebounding (t-11th) and assists (8th) · In conference games, ranked seventh in the Big Ten in rebounding (6.4 rpg) and sixth in assists (4.1 apg) · Ranked third overall in the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.1) and second in conference games (2.3) · Ranked seventh in the Big Ten in defensive rebounding overall (4.8 drpg) and tied for fourth in conference games (5.0 drpg) · Led MSU in rebounding in 11 games and in assists in 16 games, including four games doing both · Recorded three double-doubles, including in games against New Orleans (12/28; 10 points, 13 rebounds), Illinois (1/18; 15 points, 11 rebounds), and Penn State (2/6; 11 points, 11 rebounds); finished just four assists short of a triple-double against New Orleans and Penn State after recording six assists in both contests · Ranked fourth on the team in 3-point field goals made (43) and third in attempts (114) · Ranked third on the team with 37 steals · Scored in double-figures in 16 games · Scored a season-high 16 points in games against Northwestern (2/13) and Purdue (2/20) · Other top scoring efforts included 15 points against both Mount St. Mary's (11/29) and Illinois (1/18) · Recorded double-figure rebounds in five games, and grabbed six or more boards in 22 games · Dished out five or more assists in 11 games, including eight games with six or more · Recorded a season-high nine assists Iowa (3/6), while recording seven against Mount St. Mary's (11/29) · Tallied two or more steals in 10 games, including four each against Oakland (12/14), Minnesota (1/11) and Penn State (2/6). 2012-13
Recipient of MSU's Unsung Player Award · Appeared in all 36 games, starting 15, averaging 20.8 minutes · Averaged 5.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, ranking fourth on the team, and 2.4 assists, ranking second on the squad · Scored in double figures on six occasions, including a season-high 14 points against Illinois on Jan. 31; MSU was 6-0 when he scored in double figures · Made his first career start in the fourth game of the season, scoring 12 points against Boise State (11/20) · Also scored 12 points at Bowling Green (12/18), hitting 5-of-6 shots, including 2-of-2 from 3-point range · Posted a double-double against Oakland (11/23), scoring 10 points and grabbing a season-high 10 rebounds, while dishing out a season-high six assists; his brother Drew was a senior on the Golden Grizzly squad · Grabbed six or more rebounds in 11 contests · Led MSU in rebounding in five contests · Other top rebound efforts included a team-high nine boards against Michigan (2/12), and eight each against Connecticut (11/9) and Nebraska (1/13) · The eight boards against Connecticut were the fifth-most ever by an MSU freshman in his Spartan debut · Led MSU in assists in 10 games, including a season-high six helpers against both Oakland and Memphis (3/23) in the third round of the NCAA Tournament · Posted four assists or more in nine contests · Tied for fourth on the team with 16 made 3-pointers (16-57, .281). HIGH SCHOOL
2012 Lansing State Journal Player of the Year · 2012 Associated Press Class B Player of the Year · 2012 Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News Dream Team honoree · Finished second in the voting for the Hal Schram Mr. Basketball Award · Led Sexton High School to a second-straight Class B Michigan State Championship in 2012, playing for his father, Carlton Valentine, and teaming with current Spartan Bryn Forbes · Nearly averaged a triple-double as a senior with 14 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists, leading the Big Reds to a 27-1 record · Ranked among the top-100 players in the nation by Rivals.com (#81) and ESPNU100 (#98) · Rated among the top players at his position by Rivals.com (#15 shooting guard), ESPNU100 (#26 small forward) and Scout.com (#27 small forward) · 2011 First-Team All-State Class B selection as chosen by the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News · Lansing State Journal Dream Team honoree · Led Sexton High School to 2011 Class B State Championship, the school's first state title in 51 years, tallying 17 points, six rebounds and three assists in 75-60 win over Muskegon Heights in the title game · Averaged 12.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, 8.5 assists, 5.4 steals and 1.1 blocks as a junior · Attended 2011 NBA Top 100 Camp · Averaged 10.9 points, 5.8 assists and 6.3 rebounds as a sophomore, leading Sexton to state title game · 2010 Class B honorable mention all-state. PERSONAL
Born Nov. 16, 1993 · Son of Carlton and Kathy Valentine · His father was a four-year letterwinner at MSU 1985-88 · Brother Drew played on the basketball team at Oakland University, where he is currently an assistant · Communication major.
• 2012-13 Game-by-Game Stats
• 2013-14 Game-by-Game Stats
• 2014-15 Game-by-Game Stats
• 2015-16 Game-by-Game Stats
THE WORD
Seven career double-doubles · Ranks tied for seventh in MSU history with 161 made 3-pointers · Strong candidate for Big Ten Player of the Year and All-America honors · Tremendous leadership skills · Among the most versatile players in college basketball, he was the only player to rank in the Top 15 in the Big Ten in scoring, rebounding and assists in 2014-15 · Possesses a high basketball IQ and excellent passing skills that allow him to be a playmaker in the open court, as well as the half court · One of the better rebounding guards to ever play for Tom Izzo · Has constantly improved as a shooter, becoming one of the best in the Big Ten · Strong defender · Second-generation Spartan that embraces the Michigan State tradition. 2014-15
Co-Team MVP (Media Vote) · Third Team All-Big Ten · Tri-Captain · USBWA All-District V · MSU Most Improved Player · Co-recipient of MSU's Antonio Smith Glue and Guts Award · NCAA East Regional All-Tournament Team · Only player in the Big Ten to rank in the Top 15 in scoring (12th, 14.5 ppg), rebounding (11th, 6.3 rpg) and assists (7th, 4.3 apg) · Also ranked in the Top 15 in conference games in scoring (12th, 14,6 ppg), rebounding (t-7th, 6.6 rpg) and assists (7th, 4.1 apg) · Ranked second on the team in scoring, rebounding and assists · Only Spartan to start all 39 games · Became the 48th player in MSU history to score 1,000 career points during his 18-point effort against Oklahoma (3/27) in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 · Ranked fifth in the Big Ten in 3-point field-goal percentage (.416) and second in 3-point field goals made (2.6) · Ranked third in the Big Ten in 3-point field goals made (2.6) in Big Ten games · Ranked eighth in the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover ratio overall (1.8) and 10th in Big Ten games (1.9) · Turned in the third-best single-season total for made 3-pointers in MSU history (102) · Led the Spartans with a .826 free-throw percentage, including .857 in the NCAA Tournament · Scored in double figures in 29 contests, including eight games with 20 points or more · Led MSU in scoring in 16 games, in assists in 19 contests and in rebounding seven times · Scored a season-high 27 points vs. Minnesota (2/26), including knocking down 7-of-12 3-pointers · Other top-scoring efforts include 25 points vs. Marquette (11/28), knocking down six 3-pointers and 25 points vs. Michigan (2/1), adding seven rebounds and seven assists against the Wolverines · Led MSU with 23 points against Ohio State (3/13) in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals · Scored 22 points vs. Duke (4/4) in the Final Four · Tallied 22 points at Notre Dame (12/3) · Recorded three double-doubles, ranking second on the team, including games against Santa Clara (11/24; 13 pts., 11 reb.), Nebraska (1/24; 21 pts., 11 reb.) and Duke (4/4; 22 pts., 11 reb.) · Grabbed seven or more rebounds in 17 games, including eight games with eight or more boards · Recorded a season-high 11 rebounds against both Santa Clara (11/24) and Nebraska (1/24) · Dished out six or more assists in 16 games, including eight contests with seven or more · Recorded a season-high eight assists against Arkansas-Pine Bluff (12/6), Eastern Michigan (12/17) and Northwestern (2/10) · Averaged 15.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists in the NCAA Tournament · Third on the team with 35 steals · Earned a spot on the Orlando Classic All-Tournament Team, averaging 19.3 points and 5.0 rebounds in three games. 2013-14
Appeared in 38 games, starting 33, averaging 8.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 29.4 minutes per contest · Only Spartan to appear in all 38 games, ranking second on the team with 33 starts, and third in minutes per game (29.4 mpg) · Honorable-mention All-Big Ten honoree, as selected by both the league's media and coaches · Recipient of MSU's Unsung Player, Most Improved Player and Inspirational Player Awards, and tri-recipient of the Jumping Johnny Green Chairman of the Boards Award · Started the final 30 games of the season · Ranked second on the squad in assists (3.8 apg), third in rebounds (6.0 rpg) and fifth in scoring (8.0 ppg) · Only player in the Big Ten to rank in the Top 15 in both rebounding (t-11th) and assists (8th) · In conference games, ranked seventh in the Big Ten in rebounding (6.4 rpg) and sixth in assists (4.1 apg) · Ranked third overall in the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.1) and second in conference games (2.3) · Ranked seventh in the Big Ten in defensive rebounding overall (4.8 drpg) and tied for fourth in conference games (5.0 drpg) · Led MSU in rebounding in 11 games and in assists in 16 games, including four games doing both · Recorded three double-doubles, including in games against New Orleans (12/28; 10 points, 13 rebounds), Illinois (1/18; 15 points, 11 rebounds), and Penn State (2/6; 11 points, 11 rebounds); finished just four assists short of a triple-double against New Orleans and Penn State after recording six assists in both contests · Ranked fourth on the team in 3-point field goals made (43) and third in attempts (114) · Ranked third on the team with 37 steals · Scored in double-figures in 16 games · Scored a season-high 16 points in games against Northwestern (2/13) and Purdue (2/20) · Other top scoring efforts included 15 points against both Mount St. Mary's (11/29) and Illinois (1/18) · Recorded double-figure rebounds in five games, and grabbed six or more boards in 22 games · Dished out five or more assists in 11 games, including eight games with six or more · Recorded a season-high nine assists Iowa (3/6), while recording seven against Mount St. Mary's (11/29) · Tallied two or more steals in 10 games, including four each against Oakland (12/14), Minnesota (1/11) and Penn State (2/6). 2012-13
Recipient of MSU's Unsung Player Award · Appeared in all 36 games, starting 15, averaging 20.8 minutes · Averaged 5.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, ranking fourth on the team, and 2.4 assists, ranking second on the squad · Scored in double figures on six occasions, including a season-high 14 points against Illinois on Jan. 31; MSU was 6-0 when he scored in double figures · Made his first career start in the fourth game of the season, scoring 12 points against Boise State (11/20) · Also scored 12 points at Bowling Green (12/18), hitting 5-of-6 shots, including 2-of-2 from 3-point range · Posted a double-double against Oakland (11/23), scoring 10 points and grabbing a season-high 10 rebounds, while dishing out a season-high six assists; his brother Drew was a senior on the Golden Grizzly squad · Grabbed six or more rebounds in 11 contests · Led MSU in rebounding in five contests · Other top rebound efforts included a team-high nine boards against Michigan (2/12), and eight each against Connecticut (11/9) and Nebraska (1/13) · The eight boards against Connecticut were the fifth-most ever by an MSU freshman in his Spartan debut · Led MSU in assists in 10 games, including a season-high six helpers against both Oakland and Memphis (3/23) in the third round of the NCAA Tournament · Posted four assists or more in nine contests · Tied for fourth on the team with 16 made 3-pointers (16-57, .281). HIGH SCHOOL
2012 Lansing State Journal Player of the Year · 2012 Associated Press Class B Player of the Year · 2012 Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News Dream Team honoree · Finished second in the voting for the Hal Schram Mr. Basketball Award · Led Sexton High School to a second-straight Class B Michigan State Championship in 2012, playing for his father, Carlton Valentine, and teaming with current Spartan Bryn Forbes · Nearly averaged a triple-double as a senior with 14 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists, leading the Big Reds to a 27-1 record · Ranked among the top-100 players in the nation by Rivals.com (#81) and ESPNU100 (#98) · Rated among the top players at his position by Rivals.com (#15 shooting guard), ESPNU100 (#26 small forward) and Scout.com (#27 small forward) · 2011 First-Team All-State Class B selection as chosen by the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News · Lansing State Journal Dream Team honoree · Led Sexton High School to 2011 Class B State Championship, the school's first state title in 51 years, tallying 17 points, six rebounds and three assists in 75-60 win over Muskegon Heights in the title game · Averaged 12.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, 8.5 assists, 5.4 steals and 1.1 blocks as a junior · Attended 2011 NBA Top 100 Camp · Averaged 10.9 points, 5.8 assists and 6.3 rebounds as a sophomore, leading Sexton to state title game · 2010 Class B honorable mention all-state. PERSONAL
Born Nov. 16, 1993 · Son of Carlton and Kathy Valentine · His father was a four-year letterwinner at MSU 1985-88 · Brother Drew played on the basketball team at Oakland University, where he is currently an assistant · Communication major.
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