Former Lansing Sexton star Bryn Forbes won't have to sit out a season like most transfer players do.

Forbes, a guard who had played at Cleveland State, was granted immediate eligibility by the NCAA, meaning he can play for the Spartans this upcoming season, MSU announced Wednesday.

“I’m very thankful to the NCAA for allowing me to play this season," Forbes said in a statement. "I also want to thank Coach Waters and the Cleveland State program for being supportive of my desire to return home. My family is extremely important to me and I can’t think of a better situation than being able to play in my hometown. This is truly a blessing to me. I’m happy to have this behind me, so that I can focus on balancing basketball, school and family obligations. I just look forward to contributing to the team any way I can.

“I’ve only been a Spartan for a few months, but it already feels like home," Forbes added. "My teammates have been great and accepted me immediately as part of the family. It’s great to be reunited with my old teammate Denzel, and my high school coach, Carlton Valentine, has been a great support to me throughout this process. I also have to thank Jen Smith for all her work in compliance and submitting my waiver and all the necessary information. I’m so excited; I can’t wait for the start of the season.”

A native of Lansing, Michigan, Forbes will have two seasons of eligibility remaining with MSU. The prolific high school basketball shooter joins his old Sexton teammate Denzel Valentine with the Spartans.

Forbes reportedly is transferring to return to his family, including his son and ailing sister in the Lansing area. The NCAA granted his request for a hardship waiver.

“This is certainly good news for Bryn," MSU men's basketball coach Tom Izzo said in a statement. "Family is very important to Bryn and we are supportive of those obligations. I’d like to thank Jen Smith in our compliance office for all her efforts. Sometimes you look at waiver cases and question the intentions, but if there was ever a case where one seemed to be in order, this is it. Bryn is sincere in his desire to be there for his family, and he and I have discussed the work that will be needed to balance that with everything that comes along with being a student-athlete at Michigan State.

“On the court, he had a great summer shooting the ball, and we expect him to add that to our offense this season," Izzo added. "There’s still room for him to improve as a player, but I’ve already enjoyed coaching him in the limited time we’ve had this summer.”

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