BREAKING: Top Player In America Gives Special Reasons For Choosing MSU Basketball Team
In an era of college basketball defined by NIL deals, transfer portal chaos, and transactional recruiting, the four cornerstones of Michigan State’s historic 2026 recruiting class have revealed the special reasons they chose Tom Izzo and the Spartans—and their answers reveal a blueprint for how the Hall of Fame coach continues to win in a changing landscape.
**The Class That Shocked College Basketball**
Michigan State’s 2026 recruiting haul features four top-100 prospects who signed during the early November signing period, vaulting the Spartans into contention for the nation’s No. 1 class . The group includes:
– **Ethan Taylor**: 7-foot-1 center from Link Academy (Missouri), ranked No. 27 nationally by 247Sports and the second-ranked center in the class
– **Jasiah Jervis**: 6-foot-4 shooting guard from Archbishop Stepinac (New York), ranked No. 38 nationally with comparisons to former Spartan Gary Harris
– **Carlos Medlock Jr.**: 5-foot-11 point guard from Wayne, Michigan, who transferred to Link Academy, ranked No. 66 nationally
– **Julius Avent**: 6-foot-7 forward from Bergen Catholic (New Jersey), ranked No. 92 nationally with a 7-foot-3 wingspan
**The Special Reasons: ‘Relationships Matter’**
When asked why they chose Michigan State over blue-blood programs, each recruit pointed to the same thing: Tom Izzo’s relationship-based approach.
For **Ethan Taylor**, the moment that sealed his commitment came during an official visit when Izzo did something unexpected—they made pizza together. “I heard that he likes pizza, so him and I made a pizza on his visit,” Izzo recalled . The personal touch, combined with Midnight Madness and the family atmosphere, convinced the 7-footer from Kansas that East Lansing was home.
For **Carlos Medlock Jr.** , the decision was about something even more fundamental: he actually wanted to be in Michigan. “My future quarterback and that’s a very important position to me, and this kid had one thing that really stood out to me. He actually wanted to be here,” Izzo said . Medlock, a Detroit native playing at Link Academy, was the first to commit and “rallied the rest of them around him” .
For **Jasiah Jervis**, it was about family connection. Izzo noted that every time he spoke with Jervis’s mother, she would end the conversation with “Go Green.” “I felt like Falana was sort of in our corner,” Izzo said . The coaching staff built relationships not just with the player, but with his entire family—a theme that ran through every recruitment.
For **Julius Avent**, it was about legacy and trust. His father played for PJ Carlesimo at Seton Hall and later in the NBA. Michigan State assistant Steve Smith knew him well from those days. “The fact that his mom and dad and brother kind of all picked Michigan State makes this a family affair,” Izzo said .
**Izzo’s Philosophy in the NIL Era**
What makes these commitments remarkable is that they came during a period when many predicted Izzo’s old-school approach would become obsolete. Instead, he has doubled down on what works.
“I think we just came up with one of our best recruiting classes in years and years and years,” Izzo said after the signings. “In this day and age of transactions, Michigan State is still trying to be a relationship-based program. I’m excited that the parents of these kids had just as much influence on our decision as the kids did” .
ESPN’s national recruiting director Paul Biancardi noted that Izzo’s approach “has remained steadfast even in a changing era of big-money high school recruits and the revolving door of the transfer portal” . The Spartans have taken just five transfers over four years—a remarkably low number in today’s landscape .
“Relationships matter,” Izzo said with a laugh to ESPN. “We found our kind of guys” .
**’Our Kind of Guys’: What That Means**
For Izzo, “our kind of guys” refers to players who fit the culture he has built over 31 years in East Lansing—talented, coachable, and receptive to his brand of tough love coaching . They are players who appreciate a mentor who challenges them but also fiercely defends and supports them .
Izzo’s formula has created elite stability and plenty of success even in a chaotic college basketball landscape . The 2026 class looks ready to carry the baton from current standouts like Jeremy Fears Jr., Jaxon Kohler, and Carson Cooper, who are leading the Spartans to a 19-2 record and a share of the Big Ten lead .
**What Each Player Brings**
– **Taylor**: Izzo compares him to Jaren Jackson Jr., noting that Taylor’s body is already developed at 244 pounds, with long arms and quickness. “He has a game that’s going to continuously get better” .
– **Jervis**: “I think he’s kind of a Gary Harris type player, one of the rare two guards that can guard it and shoot it,” Izzo said .
– **Medlock**: “CJ is a lightning-quick point guard. He kind of reminds me a little bit of Kalin Lucas as he can really shoot the ball, and I think he’s going to be a very tough defender” .
– **Avent**: “He can defend multiple positions. He can shoot the three. He’s got length. He’s got long arms, and is a pretty tough kid” .
**Looking Ahead**
With the 2026 class officially signed and all four members nominated for McDonald’s All-American consideration, Michigan State has positioned itself for sustained success. The Spartans currently boast a 19-2 record and are ranked No. 7 nationally, with legitimate Final Four aspirations .
For the four young men who chose Michigan State, the reasons were clear: family, relationships, and a Hall of Fame coach who has built one of the most stable and successful programs in college basketball history. As Izzo put it after the signings: “We found our kind of guys” .
