EAST LANSING, MI — Good vibes only.

Xavier Booker just has to take a glance at his phone.

There’s a cheerful text from Michigan State coach Tom Izzo. A few quick swipes reveal congratulatory messages from the whole Spartans coaching staff, all recognizing his standout performance earlier this month.

No one seems to dwell on his time with the UCLA Bruins.

After two strong seasons as a Spartan, it was clear—Booker needed to find a new role at a different school.

“I felt a bit sad,” Booker mentioned to the California Post regarding his decision. “But we all recognized it was for the best, and we came to an understanding.”

When he returns to Breslin Center on Tuesday night, he’ll be a different player, but it’s not just about the new colors he’s sporting.

Playing at center for the Bruins means he’s doing a lot more battling under the basket now, rather than just hanging around the perimeter. He still has the green light to shoot from downtown, and he’s hitting 41.5% from three, which is pretty impressive for the team.

But this adjustment wasn’t a walk in the park. The 6-foot-11, 250-pound player sometimes found it tough to adjust to the physicality.

“You’re often facing guys who might be just as good, if not better,” Booker noted. He’s averaging 7.2 points and 3.7 rebounds over about 20 minutes of play, reaching personal bests. “It’s definitely been a change, but I think it’s improving day by day.”

A glimpse of his potential came during a game against Rutgers, where he excelled both from long range and inside, draining all four of his three-point attempts and hitting 10 of 11 shots. His best performances are marked by how active he is, leveraging his impressive wingspan to safeguard the basket and snatch rebounds.

“Teaching athleticism is the hardest part,” remarked UCLA coach Mick Cronin.

How did Booker manage to elevate his performance?

“There’s this little bald guy who runs alongside him during practice,” Cronin joked about himself. “I keep telling him, ‘You control your future in basketball.’”

A few years back, when Booker was regarded as the top high school prospect during Izzo’s tenure at Michigan State, his outlook seemed pretty straightforward. He spent more time on the wing before hitting his growth spurt in high school.

Even with his remarkable height and skill set, he struggled to find a groove while at Michigan State, mainly playing the power forward role on a roster rich with centers. As a sophomore, he started the first three NCAA Tournament games but was then sidelined during the final three outings.

Leaving seemed almost unavoidable.

“To be honest, we had a heartfelt meeting about it that nearly had me in tears,” Izzo reflected at a Big Ten media day. “But I couldn’t get him to bring the intensity I needed.”

Cronin advised Booker to step into the center position as a way to revamp his career, a potential ticket to the NBA. This idea took root after Cronin saw Booker score 12 points and grab seven rebounds in a win against North Carolina early last season.

“He said that game was the one to watch,” Booker recalled.

People were skeptical about how Cronin could help Booker shine, especially since he shared a similar approach to coaching as Izzo—intense and focused on defense.

Those worries were valid; there was a moment when Booker almost faded from the rotation last month. But he mentioned that UCLA’s coaching staff continued to believe in him, even before he turned in an impressive nine points, four rebounds, and three blocks against then-No. 4 Purdue.

“The coaches instill trust in me; they’re here to support me every day, and I’m just taking it all in. I view everything they say in a positive way in order to improve,” he said.

Motivation won’t be lacking for the Spartans, even if there’s plenty of camaraderie. Booker still keeps in touch with his former roommate, guard Jeremy Fears Jr., nearly each week.

“I’ll likely reach out to some of the guys there either before or after the game,” he said. “But the main goal is to leave with a win. That’s what matters the most to me.”

His old teammates feel the same way. There might come a day when his phone buzzes nonstop with jubilant messages from his old coach.

“I’ve told him I’ll give it my all, except for one game a year,” Izzo added.