This 2026 class for Tom Izzo and his staff could not only end up being one of the best in the Big Ten, but also one of the best in the country.
Over the past few years, the Spartans have gained tons of recruiting momentum, most recently having a one-and-done in Jase Richardson. The trend of taking on high school players has diminished for several schools, not for Izzo and his staff.
While already on the board with two commitments in the 2026 class, the Spartans are in the mix for several others. What the staff has already added to this class fits the Big Ten very nicely, as well as the Michigan State system.
It began with Carlos Medlock Jr. Is he the biggest guard in the country? No. This guy is not only extremely skilled with the ball in his hands, but he’s very disciplined at the guard spot, which is something Tom Izzo loves.
He’s obviously a terrific scorer (21.5 points per game) and shoots well off the dribble, but he’s also able to be a playmaker who limits his turnovers when need be.
Defensively, many question the size, but his speed and ability to chase the ball make him effective on that end as well. I think he’s going to blend nicely with the Spartans and is going to grow tremendously during his senior year with Link.
One of my favorite sleepers in the entire 2026 class is Julius Avent. He’s got size and strength, and continues to blossom as a player overall. This is a pledge that was spearheaded by assistant Thomas Kelley, who worked very hard to land Avent.
The Spartans feel they can get the absolute best out of Avent, and I believe his potential is through the roof. He can rebound, he’s a strong presence, and offensively, he can score on all three levels.
He’s viewed as a fringe Top-100 recruit across outlets, but I feel he should be way higher and probably will following a strong senior campaign.
The Spartans aren’t finished with this class. I feel as if they are trending upwards for Link forward and teammate of Carlos Medlock Jr, Ethan Taylor. I think he’s a perfect fit for the Spartans and a plus when having a current commit as a teammate.
In addition, they are one of the finalists for Jasiah Jervis, who will announce his commitment on November 5th. The Spartans may land at least one of the two.
