Tom Izzo claims Washington's Great Osobor has 'some Charles Barkley in him'

Washington’s Great Osobor reminds Tom Izzo of an all-time legend in the NBA.

Ahead of the matchup for No. 16 Michigan State against the Huskies on Thursday, Izzo was asked for a comparison for Osobor. He said that he reminded him of Charles Barkley with what all he can do with his skillset at his size at 6’8″ and 250 pounds.

“You know, I don’t know. I mean, he’s got some Charles Barkley in him,” said Izzo to the media on Monday. “He’s bigger but, I mean, he can pass it. He can score it.”

That’s especially so with the way that Osobor can pass as he’s currently posting a career-best in assists.

“He is a phenomenal passer. I mean, he’s as good a passing big man as I’ve seen in a long, long time,” Izzo said. “He can do it off the dribble, he can do it off the double team, he can do it out of the post. He can do it with his right hand, he can do it with his left hand.”

Osobor, one of the top transfers out of the portal during the last cycle, is doing everything for Washington. He’s averaging 14.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.3 steals in his 13 appearances so far. All those are team-highs for the Huskies this season.

With that, the Spartans are going to have to defend him as a team. It’ll be mostly on their bigs down low, though, considering that ability of his to pass makes it difficult to bring help on him.

“Well our bigs are going to have to guard him,” said Izzo. “Hard guy to double because he is such a good passer and it, like, doesn’t phase him, you know. So, you know, it’ll be by committee and then we’ll figure it out. You know, are you going to double him, are you not? You know, different things that you can do.”

Osobor is one of the better bigs this year in the Big Ten. He’ll now be a lot for Michigan State to have to handle later this week during their next game in conference play.

“He’s a load,” Izzo said.