AUBURN HILLS – Gavin Schilling doesn't know if Adreian Payne will or won't declare for the NBA draft, but what he does know is coach Tom Izzo can envision a possible rotation next season that includes the two of them.
"Payne may be, may not be," Schilling said by phone Wednesday after committing to the Spartans. "(Izzo) told me I can be in the same rotation, on the floor with him at the same time."
Schilling said he would have an opportunity to earn playing time at power forward as a freshman next season. The Spartans graduate Derrick Nix and could have a player like Schilling play that position while Payne or Matt Costello play center.
Schilling chose Michigan State over Minnesota, UCLA and Villanova after taking an official visit to Breslin Center for Senior Day when Izzo made his fiery postgame speech.
"What drew me was Coach Izzo and his winning tradition and how he develops his players," Schilling said. "I like his style of play and the whole family atmosphere that was there on my visit.
"He's a hardworking coach. He deserves everything he's earned so far. He's a blue-collar guy, and he's going to bust in through the front door, not the backdoor."
Izzo, who used that last line during the speech has told the 6-foot-9 Schilling he wants him to improve his shooting, Schilling said.
Finday Prep coach Todd Simon, a Fowler native who as a young coach was invited to watch Izzo's practices, said Schilling understood Izzo could be demanding on the practice floor.
"(Izzo's) going to coach him hard," Simon said. "It's not for everybody. He's a guy who appreciates that. He wants to be great.
"He can take it. He's tough. He's mentally tough and physically."