CBS Sports: Michigan State's Cassius Winston primed for breakout season

Michigan State's 2016 recruiting class of Miles Bridges, Nick Ward, Cassius Winston and Joshua Langford was a ballyhooed one — ranked No. 2 nationally.

Bridges, the Flint native, has taken the lion's share of the headlines, and deservedly so, with Ward also earning plenty of plaudits.

But that hasn't necessarily been the case for Winston, rated by 247sports as a four-star point guard, the No. 2 overall player in Michigan and 32nd nationally in the 2016 class.

Winston certainly had his moments last year, including a 16-point effort against Michigan and 15-point outburst against Northwestern. His season-high total came against Northeastern when he had a double-double of 21 points and 10 assists.

But Winston only started five games last season, losing his starting spot to Tum Tum Nain after the Penn State game, the fourth Big Ten contest on the schedule.

It's hard to keep a prospect of Winston's caliber down for long though, and that makes him a prime candidate as a breakout player this year.

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On Wednesday, CBSSports.com's Matt Norlander published his list of 'The top 25 college basketball players with something to prove this season,' with an emphasis on under-the-radar players who will have breakout seasons.

On the list: Winston.

Writes Norlander: 

A sophomore point guard with an instinct for angles, maturity to handle leading this team, which will be highlighted by superstar Miles Bridges. Winston is set up to be a four-year reliability for the Spartans. This year marks the beginning of the next very good era under Tom Izzo.

Other Big Ten players on the list include Dakota Mathias of Purdue, Kevin Huerter of Maryland, D'Mitrik Trice of Wisconsin and Leron Black of Illinois.

Just with national progression from his freshman to sophomore season — along with more playing time — Winston's season averages of 6.7 points, 5.2 assists, 1.8 rebounds and 0.8 steals per game will surely improve.

Follow digital sports producer Phil Friend on Twitter @Phil_Friend.