Michigan State Basketball Lands Five-Star Center Ethan Taylor, Secures Nation’s No. 1 Recruiting Class
In a monumental recruiting victory for Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo, Michigan State basketball has secured a commitment from five-star center Ethan Taylor, vaulting the Spartans’ 2026 recruiting class to the No. 1 spot in the nation according to 247Sports . Taylor, a 7-foot, 244-pound prospect from Link Academy in Branson, Missouri, chose Michigan State over Kansas and Oregon in a decision announced November 14, 2025 .
**Why Taylor Chose Michigan State**
Taylor, ranked as the No. 23 overall prospect nationally and the No. 2 center in the 2026 class according to the 247Sports Composite, cited the family atmosphere and Coach Izzo’s genuine approach as decisive factors in his commitment . Despite facing substantial NIL offers from Oregon and a less personal recruitment approach from Kansas, Taylor was won over by the relationships he built in East Lansing .
“Coach Izzo is incredibly passionate, and he really cares about his team and treats the players like his family,” Taylor said following his commitment. “He’ll push you to be the best you can be while holding you accountable but also loving on you. The culture he’s created where all the former players come back and work out with the team for ‘Grind Week’ is cool. It says a lot about him as a coach and the staff” .
**An Elite Four-Man Class**
Taylor joins three other top-100 prospects in Michigan State’s 2026 recruiting haul, forming one of the most impressive classes of Izzo’s tenure:
– **Carlos Medlock Jr.** (No. 89 nationally), a 5-foot-11 point guard from Wayne, Michigan who transferred to Link Academy for his senior season. Medlock was the first to commit in July 2025, choosing MSU over Michigan and Tennessee. He averaged 24.9 points and 4.8 assists as a junior at Wayne Memorial, leading his team to the Division 1 state championship game .
– **Jasiah Jervis** (No. 50 nationally), a 6-foot-4 shooting guard from Archbishop Stepinac in White Plains, New York. Jervis averaged 16.2 points per game on 49% shooting and 40% from three-point range during his junior season. He cited the family atmosphere at MSU as a key factor, noting that “Coach Izzo was super passionate and involved throughout my whole recruitment process” .
– **Julius Avent** (No. 70 nationally), a 6-foot-7 power forward from Bergen Catholic in New Jersey with a massive 7-foot-3 wingspan. Avent brings physicality, defensive versatility, and developing three-point range (38% from beyond the arc during EYBL play) .
**What This Class Means for the Spartans**
The 2026 class arrives at a critical juncture for Michigan State, as the program is set to lose both Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper to graduation after this season . Taylor is expected to step in immediately and provide a dominant post presence, while the backcourt additions of Medlock and Jervis offer scoring punch and leadership.
ESPN’s national recruiting director Paul Biancardi praised Izzo’s approach in an era of NIL and the transfer portal, noting that Izzo’s “formula has created elite stability and plenty of success… even in a chaotic college basketball landscape” . With the 2026 class now officially signed, Michigan State fans have every reason to be excited about the program’s future as Izzo continues to build for sustained championship contention.
