Former Michigan State forward Xavier Booker transfers to UCLA
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Former Michigan State forward Xavier Booker transferred to Big Ten foe UCLA on Friday, according to On3’s Joe Tipton.
Booker entered the transfer portal on Tuesday after spending two seasons at Michigan State. He averaged 4.7 points and 2.2 rebounds on 41.7 percent shooting (23.3 percent from three) in 12.8 minutes per game this season. He made 33 appearances for the Spartans, including three starts.
The Indianapolis native saw his role decrease throughout the season. He began the season as a starter but played sparingly down the stretch. He logged three minutes of action in the NCAA Tournament.
Booker averaged 3.7 points and 1.7 rebounds on 43.9 percent shooting (33.3 percent from three) in 9.3 minutes per game as a freshman. He made 27 appearances that year and started two games.
A former five-star recruit out of Indianapolis (Ind.) Cathedral High School, Booker was the No. 14 player in the 2023 class, per the On3 Industry Rankings. He also was the No. 2 center and No. 1 player from Indiana in his class.
Booker was a four-star transfer, per the On3 Transfer Portal Rankings. He was the No. 76 overall transfer and No. 20 power forward in the portal.
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UCLA finished with a 23-11 (13-7) record this season, good for fifth place in the Big Ten. The Bruins’ season ended with a 67-58 loss to No. 2 seed Tennessee in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. UCLA has already earned portal commitments from former New Mexico guard Donovan Dent and former Kansas City guard Jamar Brown.
Booker will return to the Breslin Center when UCLA plays Michigan State there next season.
Booker became one of three Michigan State players to enter the portal on Tuesday, following transfer announcements from Tre Holloman and Gehrig Normand. Neither player has yet to commit elsewhere.
As of now, Michigan State will return junior forward Jaxon Kohler at the power forward position. Fellow frontcourt members Carson Cooper and Jesse McCulloch, the latter of whom redshirted this season, have the option to return as well. Cooper is a junior, while McCulloch is a freshman.
Incoming four-star high school recruit Cam Ward and sophomore forward Coen Carr could also provide depth at the power forward spot next year.
Michigan State will graduate starting center Szymon Zapala from its frontcourt this season.
