Xavier Booker's journey in Michigan State basketball has been a remarkable one. From struggling in the early games to now putting up career-high performances, he has truly turned a corner.

Witness Xavier Booker's Rise to Prominence in College Basketball

Early Struggles and Rebound

In the first seven games of the season for MSU (9 - 2), Booker scored in single digits five times and went scoreless in the other two. This included a disheartening start against Colorado and Memphis in Maui. He went from a starter in the first three games to coming off the bench after not scoring and getting only one rebound in 13 minutes of a loss against then-No. 1 Kansas on Nov. 12. But his story didn't end there.A few moments later, Booker grabbed the rebound and started Michigan State's fast break with an outlet. This set the stage for his remarkable comeback.

Career-High Performance and Team Impact

In the 19th-ranked Spartans' 77 - 58 blowout of Oakland at Little Caesars Arena on Tuesday night, Booker had a career-high 18-point performance. He made 5 of 9 shots and 3 of 5 from deep. It was part of a four-game stretch where he scored in double figures. His efforts were crucial in the team's victory.Coach Tom Izzo called it a "stat-stuffer" performance. Booker is averaging 13 points on 66.7% overall shooting and has made 7 of 13 from 3-point range (53.8%) over the past four games. He also has grabbed 5.3 rebounds and blocked a shot a game in that stretch.

Recent Upward Development in the Paint

In a second-half sequence in the paint, Booker's recent upward development was clearly evident. With the Spartans pulling away deep into the second half, after trailing at one point in the first period and leading by just a point at halftime, Jeremy Fears Jr. collected a pass after a defensive rebound and took off in transition. Booker ran down the opposite alley stride for stride beside the point guard and found himself in the paint.When Fears knifed to the bucket but missed the layup, Booker elevated in traffic but missed the putback attempt. He hopped up again for the offensive rebound - one of a career-best four - and had it knocked out of his hand by Oakland's DQ Cole. He jumped again and again. Finally, he drew contact and the foul on Cole, making both free throws afterward.This showed not just his increased effort but also his newfound willingness to mix it up down low. He attempted just two free throws through the first seven games, but in the past four is 9 for 10 at the line, including 5 of 6 against the Grizzlies.

Continued Work and Challenges Ahead

As much as it appears he has turned the corner and is starting to play to his potential, with MSU preparing to host a much taller Florida Atlantic team Saturday (2 p.m./FS1), Booker has plenty of work remaining to reach his ceiling.Seconds after that offensive sequence, he bowed his head in frustration after failing to close out defensively on a 3-pointer from Oakland's Isaiah Jones. But he quickly bounced back, attacking the boards after missing a jumper and tipping in Szymon Zapala's missed layup.This shows his determination and growth as a player. "Trust me when I say this - a long ways to go for our team, a long ways to go for Xavier," Izzo said Tuesday. "He is making progress."