Tom Izzo Adds First 2014 Recruit in Versatile Point Guard Lourawls "Tum-Tum" Nairn
Spartan basketball fans have been holding onto the edge of their seats for sometime just waiting for the dominos to fall into place for the 2014 early signing period. Tom Izzo managed to land his first key in the cog of many high profile recruits that’s entertained East Lansing as a potential destination.
Lourawls (nicknamed ‘Tum-Tum’) Nairn is regarded as a top-100 recruit nationally. The 5’11†point guard hails from Bel Air (Kansas) Sunrise Christian and boasts a great deal of skill and command on the floor.Â
Nairn has an explosive first step and gets to the rim with either hand weaving through traffic with natural point guard instincts. ‘Tum-Tum’ also shoots the ball well moving left or right off the dribble and has the ability to create his own shot.
Probably the most impressive aspect of Nairn is his mature physique and powerful build. The physical adjustment can be extremely hard for freshmen in the Big Ten Conference, but Nairn looks like a B1G 10 player right now.
Nairn’s crossover dribble and running one hand jumper give MSU fans a glimpse of his scoring ability in the lane. The sub 6-footer will find both of those aspects of his game a necessity when he goes up against the nation’s top schedule.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuP_mVTZsQQ
Nairn naturally uses his body to shield defenders from the ball when going to the rim. Possessing true ball skills equal on both his right and left hands, ‘Tum-Tum’ is able to change speeds fluidly while driving the ball up the court and through traffic. His foot speed is deceptive and he is really able to expose defenders weaknesses by using his quickness and crossover to get his man off balance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J30XU_U6YeQ
Of all of the point guards that MSU has landed in the last ten years, Nairn possesses the skills to be effective immediately and has the body to handle the brutal schedule that lies before him as a Spartan. As players quickly learn at MSU, defense is first and like all newcomers, this will probably determine his minutes upon his arrival.
With so many big prospects still on the board, one has to wonder if Nairn’s commitment will sway the likes of any of the power players still on MSU’s radar. There is more to come with early signing day around the corner. This is truly a great start to the 2014 class.