Nick Emery Tweets Had No Impact On Sissoko’s Decision To Pick MSU

MOUNT PLEASANT, Utah – Wasatch Academy star center Mady Sissoko announced on Tuesday night that he is committed to playing for the Michigan State Spartans.

Michigan State rose above the three other finalists for Sissoko. One of those finalists was an in-state school in BYU.

Wasatch Academy’s Mady Sissoko in his new Michigan State gear. pic.twitter.com/HueGgih4z8

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 11, 2019

BYU’s recruitment of Sissoko took a strange turn when former BYU basketball player Nick Emery sent out tweets saying that Sissoko should not play for the Cougars because of the coaching staff.

The since-deleted tweets caused an uproar on social media over the weekend and had many wondering if they would play a role in Sissoko’s recruitment.

Nick Emery tweets an apology for a negative message he posted on Friday about the #BYUHoops coaching staff.#BYU #GoCougs #HereComesWasatch https://t.co/pPhiXSY6Zp

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 7, 2019

The simple answer is no.

Sissoko knew Michigan State was the place for him for a while now.

“Before that tweet, I had already kind of made my decision,” said Sissoko. “I didn’t even see the tweet. People were texting me, did you see it? Did you see it? It didn’t even think it was a big deal.”

Sissoko, “For him, he didn’t even change my mind. I’m thankful for the people around me that care about me.”

Mady Sissoko on the now-deleted Nick Emery tweets. "Before that tweet, I had already kind of made my decision. I didn't even see the tweet. People were texting me, did you see it? Did you see it? I didn't even think it was a big deal."#KSLsports #MichiganState #BYU

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 11, 2019

Similar sentiments were shared from Wasatch Academy head coach David Evans.

“I like Nick Emery … a lot. Maybe he was just having a rough go. But he’s a really good individual and he’s been through a lot. I think he’s still a phenomenal player,” said Evans. “A lot of people went at him I think. Everybody has reasons for saying things. I think BYU’s staff does a great job. They were here today at our gym and they work very, very hard and our really good coaches.

Evans continued, “As Mady said, I think he’s had Michigan State on his mind for a while. But he wanted to make sure. BYU’s done a great job, Kansas has done a great job, Memphis has done a great job, Kentucky has done a great job, UCLA’s done a great job, I mean he had every school calling him.”

Sissoko will sign with Michigan State this November and join the Spartan basketball program for the 2020-21 academic year.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.