Former Michigan State point guard A.J. Hoggard names transfer destination

A.J. Hoggard is heading to the SEC to finish his college career.

The former Michigan State senior starting point guard announced his transfer commitment to Vanderbilt on Saturday live on the Field of 68′s YouTube channel. Hoggard entered the portal in April with one season of eligibility remaining while also exploring the start of a professional career. He picked the Commodores over his other finalists, USC, Washington, Georgia and Florida.

Hoggard, 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, averaged 8.5 points, 4.6 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game while shooting 41 percent from the floor over four seasons with the Spartans. He averaged a career-high 12.9 points as a junior in 2022-23 while helping the Spartans to a spot in the Sweet 16.

The transfer means Hoggard is going from a Michigan State program that has reached the NCAA Tournament 26 straight seasons to Vanderbilt, which hasn’t made the field since 2017. The Commodores posted a 9-23 record last season under fifth-year coach Jerry Stackhouse, who was fired in March and replaced by Mark Byington.

Hoggard was one of two Michigan State players from last season’s roster to transfer out. Center Mady Sissoko is heading to Cal for his final year of eligibility.

Coach Tom Izzo dipped into the portal for the first time in more than three years when he added Omaha forward Frankie Fidler in April. The Spartans picked up a second transfer commitment on Tuesday from center Szymon Zapala from Longwood University.

Michigan State is poised to turn to second-year player Jeremy Fears Jr. at point guard next season. His freshman season was cut short after being shot in the leg in December, requiring surgery to his left leg.