BREAKING: Nation’s Top Power Forward, Koa Thompson, Decommits from Duke, Chooses Michigan State Basketball
In a stunning and seismic recruiting victory for Tom Izzo and Michigan State, five-star power forward Koa Thompson, the nation’s No. 1 ranked player at his position, has decommitted from the Duke Blue Devils and announced his commitment to Michigan State University. The announcement, made on social media late Sunday night, delivers a transformational talent to East Lansing and represents one of the most significant recruiting coups of Izzo’s storied career.
Thompson, a 6’9”, 235-pound force from Chicago’s Simeon Career Academy, had been a verbal pledge to Duke and head coach Jon Scheyer since August. His sudden change of heart is a direct credit to the relentless, year-long pursuit by Tom Izzo and his staff, who hosted Thompson on an official visit to campus just two weeks ago.
“After deep reflection with my family, I’ve decided my heart is in the Midwest, playing for a Hall of Fame coach who built his legacy on toughness and player development,” Thompson wrote in his announcement post. “My relationship with Coach Izzo and the entire staff is unbreakable. They see me not just as a player, but as the cornerstone to bring a championship back to East Lansing. I believe in the culture at Michigan State, and I’m ready to work. Go Green.”
This flip is a monumental achievement for Izzo, who has historically built champions with elite development but has occasionally been outflanked for the very top-five national prospects in head-to-head battles. Securing Thompson changes that narrative entirely. His commitment marks Michigan State’s first No. 1 overall recruit since the advent of modern recruiting rankings, signaling that the program remains a powerhouse destination capable of landing the sport’s most coveted talent.
For Duke, the loss is a significant blow. Thompson was the centerpiece of their highly-touted recruiting class, expected to be a one-and-done star. His departure leaves a major void in their frontcourt and underscores the fiercely competitive nature of elite basketball recruiting, where no commitment is safe until a National Letter of Intent is signed.
On the court, Koa Thompson is a generational prospect who perfectly embodies the “Michigan State forward” ethos, but with next-level skill. Analysts rave about his blend of bruising physicality, a polished back-to-the-basket game, explosive athleticism for rebounding and shot-blocking, and a rapidly improving face-up jumper. He is projected as an immediate starter and a potential Big Ten Player of the Year candidate from day one.
“This is Tom Izzo’s biggest recruiting win, period,” said ESPN analyst Paul Biancardi. “To go into a head-to-head battle with Duke for the No. 1 power forward in the country and win—in today’s recruiting landscape—is extraordinary. Koa Thompson isn’t just a player; he’s a program-changer. He gives Michigan State a dominant force they can run their offense through, and his commitment will attract other top-tier talent to join him.”
Thompson’s decision instantly catapults Michigan State’s 2025 recruiting class to the top of the national rankings and injects a tidal wave of energy into the program. For Tom Izzo, who has spoken openly about his desire for another national title, landing a talent like Koa Thompson is the clearest possible signal that his Hall of Fame tenure is far from finished and that the Spartans are firmly back in the championship conversation.
