MSU G Janai Crooms granted immediate eligibility by the NCAA

Suzy Merchant and the MSU WBB team practice at the Breslin Center/ Photo Credit: MSU Athletic Communications

Zach Surdenik, Women's Basketball Beat Reporter
December 4, 2020

EAST LANSING — The Michigan State Spartans women’s basketball team (2-0) got some good news on Friday that will help to fortify their roster as they head into their Big Ten opener next week on the road at Minnesota (1-0). 

5-foot-10 guard Janai Crooms was granted a waiver for immediate eligibility from the NCAA. Crooms, a transfer from Ohio State, played in 32 games for the Buckeyes in 2019-20 and made 10 starts. She averaged 6.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game as a sophomore. While Crooms struggled from behind the 3-point line, she showed a lot of promise in her two seasons in Columbus. 

Crooms also started 19 games as a freshman; she averaged 8.8 points per game and was second on the team with 64 assists.

Coming out of high school, Crooms was a four-star recruit and was ranked as the No. 36 overall prospect in the class of 2018 by prospect nation. She was one of the top recruits in Rhode Island and was a four-time New England All-Star. 

Crooms should help to add depth to a Spartans’ backcourt that has a lot of skilled pieces with Nia Clouden, Tory Ozment, Moira Joiner, and Alyza Winston all getting significant playing time. 

Michigan State is still waiting to hear from the NCAA on the eligibility status of Penn State transfers Alisia Smith and Jayla James, but adding Crooms to the rotation should definitely be a boost for MSU as they move towards Big Ten play.