The most important Spartan next season

Cases for the Most Important Spartan (MIS) of 2016-17 can actually be made for a few of the San Jose State University players -- Brandon Clarke or possibly Ryan Welage and maybe even the two freshmen at the point, Nai Carlisle and Isaiah Nichols since there is a major gap to fill -- but we are going with this player as most critical:  drumrrrrroollllll ..... redshirt sophomore Ryan Singer.

Okay, some of you are now asking "really?" to yourself if not out loud but just remember that Frank Rogers has graduated. Plus, it's unlikely Ashtin Chastain will be ready for more than short term appearances and Ryan Welage seems less than capable physically to play in the middle. The latter achieved but five shotblocks in 817 minutes during his initial season.

Hopefully the 6-foot-10 Singer has fully recovered from his injury and has added weight/strength during his redshirt season. He's also now 21 years old, thanks to a prep year after high school and his sitting out this past season, so the time is now for him to begin demonstrating an advancement in his skill set and thus an impact on the court.

Singer hasn't been a big scorer throughout his involvement in basketball. Points from him would obviously be beneficial in 2016-17 but here is what is absolutely needed: a presence on the boards and in the paint defensively.

Yes, Clarke is certainly a plus shot rejector but he is best at doing so off the ball which is helpful in his staying out of foul trouble. He also doesn't have the size or bulk for patrolling the middle. That needs to be Singer's role.