25 Derrick Nix
	Class: Senior Height / Weight: 6-9 / 270 Position: C Hometown/High School: Detroit, Mich./Pershing

The Word
Extremely tough, wide-bodied frontcourt player • Possesses great hands and very good footwork • Below-the-rim player with excellent post moves • Preseason third-team All-Big Ten selection by Athlon Sports College Basketball • Has maintained weight around 270 pounds for over a year after topping out at over 340 pounds in high school.

2011-12
Appeared in 37 games, starting one, averaging 8.1 points and 3.8 rebounds • Ranked fifth on the team in scoring, fourth in rebounding and fourth in steals (27) • Ranked sixth in the Big Ten in field-goal percentage overall (.558) and fifth in conference games (.547) • Recipient of MSU's Most Improved Player Award after raising his scoring average from 2.7 ppg as a sophomore to 8.1 ppg as a junior • Co-recipient of MSU's Unsung Player Award • Scored in double figures in 14 games • Led the team in scoring with 13 points at Michigan (1/17) • Scored a career-best 18 points vs. LIU Brooklyn (3/16), adding eight rebounds • Scored 14 points at home against Indiana (12/28) and versus Bowling Green (12/17) • Collected six or more rebounds on seven occasions, including a season-high nine rebounds in 17 minutes in the season-opener against North Carolina (11/11) • Grabbed a team-best six rebounds in MSU's 74-67 win at No. 23 Gonzaga (12/10) • Recorded two steals in seven contests and two blocks on three occasions • Averaged 1.0 assists per game and tallied a career-best five against Nebraska (2/25), adding three against Ohio State (3/11) in the Big Ten Tournament title game and against Nebraska Omaha (12/4).

2010-11
Appeared in 30 games, starting one • Scored a season-high 12 points at Iowa (2/2) in just 12 minutes, hitting 5-of-9 from the field, adding five offensive rebounds • Played a season-high 23 minutes vs. Indiana (1/30), scoring nine points • Scored seven points at Ohio State (2/15) • Grabbed a season-high six boards at Illinois (1/18) • Grabbed more offensive rebounds (31) than defensive rebounds (28).

2009-10
Appeared in 36 games, starting 16 • Started the final nine games and 11 of the last 12 • Shot .507 from the field • Set MSU freshman debut record with 14 rebounds vs. Florida Gulf Coast (11/13), adding 11 points to become just the second freshman in school history to post a double-double in his debut • Scored eight points in 15 minutes vs. Maryland (3/21) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament • Forty-five percent of his rebounds came on the offensive glass (34 of 76) • Earned the first start of his career against Wisconsin (1/6).

High School
2009 Hal Schram Mr. Basketball Award winner • Averaged 15 points and 15 rebounds as a senior at Pershing High School, playing for Coach A.W. Canada • Led Pershing to Class A State title • Detroit Free Press Class A All-State selection, also earning All-Metro and All-Detroit honors • Averaged 16 points and 12 rebounds as a junior • Helped lead Pershing to a 22-5 record and a spot in the Class A title game, totaling 12 points and 10 rebounds in the championship game • Named third-team All-Detroit by The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press and honorable mention all-state Class A by the Detroit Free Press • Rated the No. 69 player in the nation by Rivals.com, including the No. 8 center • Played for Detroit Murray Wright as a sophomore • Played AAU basketball for The Family.

Personal
Born Dec. 11, 1990 • Son of Darlis Nix • Attended the same high school as former Spartan All-American Steve Smith • Sociology major.