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COLLEGE RECRUITING: MSU triples its pleasure this week, picks up three big-time recruits

By: Scott Burnstein, December 12, 2013, 9:00 pm

East Lansing is the destination.

Michigan State came away with three commitments from in-state superstar prep athletes this week, two for football and one for basketball.

On the gridiron, the Spartans had Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Tyson Smith and St. Claire Shores South Lake’s Kyonta Stallworth commit, while on the hardwood, Muskegon’s Deyonta Davis, pledged his allegiance to the Green and White, too.

The enticing trio of prospects are each juniors and all have more than a year of high school left to complete before they’ll reach campus.

Smith (6-foot-0, 180 pounds) is a defensive back with speed, outstanding cover skills and incredibly powerful tackling ability.

Stallworth (6-foot-4, 275-pound) is a monster on the offensive line, quick on his feet, solid in his technique and nasty in his on-field demeanor.

Both Smith and Stallworth are ranked four-star recruits and consensus Top 10 prospects in the state’s Class of 2015.

Pegged a Top 5 recruit for the state’s junior class on the basketball court, Davis is a 6-foot-9 behemoth on the block with a huge wing span, natural athleticism, excellent foot work and a soft touch around the rim.

Many national experts are saying that Spartans got a steal in snagging Davis for their 2015 recruiting crop.

He also had scholarship offers from, Memphis and Iowa State, among others. It’s pretty safe to say that if Davis had decided to remain on the market through this hoops season, he would have garnered a boatload more.

Last winter as a sophomore, Davis averaged 13 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots per game. This season, with its junior juggernaut holding things down in the middle, Muskegon is expected to contend for a Class A state title.

As a sophomore on the gridiron in 2012, Smith helped lead St. Mary’s to a Catholic League championship and a spot in the Division 3 state finals, playing in the secondary and on offense at wide receiver.

"This is a great opportunity, the kind of school and program I was looking for in every way," said Smith of selecting MSU. "I’m going to be playing for one of the best teams in the country and I can do it close to home where my family and friends can come see me compete."

Back in the spring on the baseball diamond, Smith was a hard-hitting outfielder for a St. Mary’s club that claimed a Class B district crown.