Photo of Matt Costello grabbing a rebound is featured on Coach Tom Izzo's website, www.coachizzo.com. MATT COSTELLO! Spartan from Bay City Western Shows Mr. Basketball Skills
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He didn't go to Germany with the team in pre-season and he rode the pine most of the season, but in the biggest game of the year Matt Costello showed up big time.
ESPN announcers were gaga over the late game showing of last year's Michigan Mr. Basketball in the Michigan State 75-52 win over Michigan on Tuesday night.
After a thunderous dunk as the game clock wore down, Bay City Times sportswriter Lee Thompson picked up the patter on ESPN:
"Costello is a PARADE all-American who won the Mr. Basketball Award here in the state," ESPN announcer Mike Tirico said. "(He's from) Bay City, right near Flint and Saginaw ... an area that has been very, very fruitful for Michigan State. Remember the Flintstones leading Michigan State to that title."
To which ESPN analyst Dan Dakich replied: "Bay City, who gave us that great 70s rock band the Bay City Rollers."
Obviously, some announcers have a very narrow view of what makes Bay City famous; we are neither a suburb of Flint nor the home of the Bay City Rollers, who just took the name for their band.
Whatever, any notice is better than none at all, as my friend and onetime athlete Bay City Bear says.
Costello, who last year was playing in the cornfield at Western High, Auburn, gave the basketball world notice that he is the heir apparent to the local stardom rivaling that of Central's High's Eric Devendorf who set the world on fire at Syracuse in 2009 and now is playing in the Ukraine.
His six rebounds and eight points on three buckets and two free throws in a short 11 minute stint on the floor were evidence that Mr. Costello is for real.
Several sportswriters commented that talk of red shirting Costello because of a tailbone injury and lack of playing time now is out the window.
Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press ran a photo of a grinning, happy Costello coming off the floor after his triumphant showing, commenting:
"Coach Tom Izzo is trying to make up for his lack of perimeter depth by using his frontcourt depth, and the freshman from Bay City is taking advantage."
Izzo said a few weeks ago that a redshirt might have been a good idea for Costello, in retrospect, wrote Rexrode, concluding: "It doesn't look that way anymore."
"We feel pretty good about where Matt is right now," associate head coach Dwayne Stephens said. "There's no question he can help us down the stretch."
Costello's size and inside style is reminiscent of past star Paul Davis from the 2005-2006 season.
The MSU Spartans basketball webside describes Costello:
"Long, tough post player - Loves to use his body to create space and angles in the post -- Combination of soft hands and great feet that allow him to be a threat to score with his back to the basket -- Can be effective in transition by out-running opponents rim to rim -- Has range to stretch the defense out to 18 feet.
In high school, Costello was 2012 Hal Schram Mr. Basketball Award winner, 2012 Gatorade Michigan High School Player of the Year, 2012 Parade Magazine All-American.
He was a Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News Dream Team selection for the second straight year, Averaged 25.1 points, 19.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 4.0 blocks per game at Bay City Western for Coach Chris Watz.
Costello led the Warriors to the Class 4A regional semifinals, an 18-6 record, and a second-straight district championship -- Finished his career as the school's all-time leader in points (1,518), rebounds (1,069) and blocked shots (280).
Costello was ranked among the top 100 players in the nation by Rivals.com (#83), ESPNU100 (#87), and Scout.com (#95) -- Rated among the top players at his position by ESPNU100 (#17 power forward), Rivals.com (#21 power forward), and Scout.com (#23 center).
In 2011 he was Gatorade Michigan High School Player of the Year -- Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News Dream Team selection -- Averaged 19.8 points, 13.0 rebounds and 3.8 blocks as a junior, shooting 53.4 percent from the field and 72 percent from the foul line -- Posted a school-record 19 double-doubles -- Helped team improve from 10-11 in 2010 to 24-3 in 2011, leading Bay City Western to Class A state semifinals for the first time in school history.
He also was MVP of Saginaw Valley Association -- Attended 2011 NBA Top 100 Camp -- Averaged 16.7 points 11.8 rebounds, 3 blocks and 3 assists as a sophomore -- Set a school record with 14 blocks in a single game -- 2010 Bay City Times Dream Team and first-team All-Saginaw Valley League selection -- National Honor Society member.
Born Aug. 5, 1993, he is the son of Mike and Jen Costello and is a Supply chain management major at MSU.
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