Former Longwood, Utah State center Szymon Zapala transfers to Michigan State basketball

Szymon SZN is coming to East Lansing.

Tom Izzo finally landed a big man from the transfer portal, with Michigan State basketball getting a commitment from 7-footer Szymon Zapala on Tuesday. It is the center’s final year of eligibility, available with the COVID waiver for his freshman season in 2020-21.

That gives the Spartans some depth and experience to help offset the loss of Mady Sissoko, who entered the portal and transferred to California for his final year of eligibility on April 29. It also addresses an area of need MSU fans have been critical about Izzo’s handling of the position going into last season.

A native of Zaborze, Poland, Zapala began his career in 2020-21 at Utah State and played in 45 games there over three seasons, averaging 1.2 points and 1.3 rebounds over 4.6 minutes.

Last season, he transferred to Longwood and blossomed as a scorer, rebounder and defender. The 240-pound Zapala averaged 9.8 points and 5.6 rebounds in 16.7 minutes per game, shooting 62.9% from the field and 65.5% at the free-throw line while blocking 29 shots. He started 23 of his 35 games, debuting with a 20-point, 11-rebound performance at St. Bonaventure, among his four double-doubles on the season. Zapala scored in double figures 16 times and had double-digit rebounds in five contests, flashing the ability to score on the block and occasionally run the floor in transition.

At center, MSU returns 6-9 Jaxon Kohler and 6-11 Carson Cooper for their junior seasons. Highly touted big man Xavier Booker will be back as a sophomore, and the 6-11 former McDonald’s All-American will likely be used to stretch defenses from the forward position. The Spartans also have 6-10 freshman Jesse McCulloch arriving in the summer, giving Izzo a much bigger and deeper front line than he has had the past two seasons.

A solid defender and rebounder, the 6-9, 240-pound Sissoko started 56 of MSU’s 66 games the past two seasons but struggled to find consistency on offense and with catching interior passes. The native of Mali, West Africa, started 26 of 35 games last season and averaged 3.1 points and 5.1 rebounds, 0.4 blocks and 0.9 turnovers in his 15.3 minutes. He shot 56.8% overall and 70.5% on free throws and was a plus-71 on the court but lost his starting spot late in the season.

The Spartans finished last season 20-15 and lost to No. 1 seed North Carolina in the second round of the NCAA tournament, though they extended Izzo’s Division I record to 26 straight appearances.

Zapala will be Izzo’s second portal addition for next season, joining 6-7 wing Frankie Fidler, who committed to MSU on April 23 and is expected to allow senior Jaden Akins to move to shooting guard.

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Transfer center Szymon Zapala commits to Michigan State basketball