The Spartans faced some scrutiny during portal season due to their lack of emphasis on transfer additions. In today’s era—where fans and media crave instant gratification, almost like signing a player in 2K during the offseason—that approach can feel outdated. But that’s simply not how Tom Izzo operates. For better or worse, whether you like it or not, it’s Izzo’s way or the highway.
If you don’t like it now, don’t come crawling back when the results speak for themselves. Izzo has always been about building from within—developing young players and letting them earn their way into Spartan lore.
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Year in and year out, Izzo brings in top recruits, lets them wait in the wings, and when it’s their time to flourish, he unleashes them. Then it’s rinse and repeat.
With stars like Carsen Cooper and Jaxon Kohler moving on to the next chapter of their lives after Michigan State basketball, the Spartans are once again reloading. This time, they bring in a top-tier recruiting class featuring four players ranked in the SC Next Top 100: Jasiah Jervis, Ethan Taylor, Carlos Medlock, and Julius Avent.
All four incoming freshmen have the potential to make an impact, each bringing a unique skill set to East Lansing.
Jasiah Jervis headlines the group, coming in as the No. 25 ranked player in the Top 100. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard out of Archbishop Stepinac is an elite scorer who thrives when the lights are brightest. Jervis can put the ball in the basket from anywhere on the court, though he continues to develop his ability to attack the lane.
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With a 6-foot-8 wingspan, he also brings an aggressive defensive presence—something Izzo will value immediately. I expect Jervis to enter the season as the starting shooting guard, with Jordan Scott likely coming off the bench behind him. That may raise eyebrows considering Scott’s experience and his role in last year’s success, but Jervis is simply that talented.
Following Jervis is big man Ethan Taylor, ranked No. 34 in the Top 100. Standing at 7-foot-1.5—and still growing—Taylor brings rare size to the Spartans’ frontcourt.
Paired with transfer addition Anton Bonke, Taylor helps give Michigan State one of the tallest and most imposing frontcourts in recent memory. A product of Link Academy, Taylor boasts a 7-foot-3 wingspan and is a truly intriguing prospect due to his physical tools alone.
Defensively, there’s still work to be done—something Izzo will undoubtedly address early. I expect Taylor to begin the season backing up Bonke, but he should see meaningful minutes, especially in bigger games. His upside is too significant to keep off the floor for long, even as he refines his defensive instincts.
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Next up is Carlos Medlock, who checks in at No. 49 in the SC Next Top 100, giving Michigan State three incoming recruits inside the top 50.
Also from Link Academy, Medlock is a dynamic scorer in a smaller frame. At 5-foot-11 and 165 pounds, he relies on his shiftiness, explosiveness, and creativity to get past defenders—because he’s not winning many battles based on size alone.
That size disadvantage has actually sharpened his game. Medlock has become an extremely crafty ball-handler and has the potential to develop into one of the better passers in Izzo’s system, especially if he spends time learning behind Jeremy Fears for a season or two.
At Link Academy, Medlock was the focal point of the offense. At Michigan State, he’ll likely need to adjust to a more patient role, possibly coming off the bench behind Fears. If he can embrace Izzo-style basketball—prioritizing system and efficiency over a score-first mentality—Medlock has the tools to become a star.
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Rounding out the class is Julius Avent, ranked No. 90 in the Top 100. At 6-foot-7, Avent brings toughness and physicality to the power forward position.
He’ll most likely begin his career as a third option at the four, behind Kaleb Glenn and Cam Ward. Still, Avent is far from an afterthought—he’s a high-motor player who thrives on contact and plays with a chip on his shoulder.
In many ways, Avent mirrors Ward with his linebacker-like build and willingness to body up opponents. With Avent, Ward, and Glenn in the rotation, Michigan State has the potential to dominate the glass and impose its will physically. That identity fits perfectly with what Izzo has always demanded from his teams.
The Spartans may be doing things the “old school way,” but there’s a strong argument that it’s still the right way. In a college basketball landscape driven by quick fixes, Michigan State continues to bet on development, patience, and culture.
And with this group of incoming freshmen, the foundation is being set—not just for next season, but for the next several years in East Lansing.
