Michigan State basketball: 2024 recruiting class jumps to No. 6 nationally

After landing Jesse McCulloch on Thursday afternoon, the 2024 Michigan State basketball recruiting class jumped to No. 6 nationally.

“That Tom Izzo is so hot right now.” -Zoolander, probably

After landing his second four-star recruit in the 2024 Michigan State basketball recruiting class, the Hall of Fame coach looks like he’s building yet another special group.

On Thursday afternoon, four-star big man Jesse McCulloch committed to Michigan State over Alabama, Xavier, and Virginia Tech. His commitment comes just weeks after the Spartans kicked off the 2024 cycle with top-50 shooting guard Kur Teng.

Owning the No. 9 recruiting class in the country headed into the day, Michigan State has jumped a few spots with the McCulloch commitment all the way to No. 6. The Spartans are only behind Rutgers in the Big Ten and North Carolina, Baylor, Iowa State, Auburn, and the Scarlet Knights overall.

While the average recruiting ranking isn’t what it usually is under Izzo, I would put money on both Teng and McCulloch rising up the ranks before their high school careers are over.

Plus, this class is just getting started.

It’s at two commits right now, but I’d guess that Izzo is looking to fill it out with around four players and there are two that come to mind: Flory Bidunga and Bryson Tucker.

Bidunga is the No. 1 center in the class and it looks like Indiana may be the Spartans’ main competition. He’d be a nice addition to the post with Mady Sissoko graduating and Xavier Booker potentially back for a second year to flourish at the four. That post play would be scary, especially with Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper, too.

Tucker is one of the top small forwards in the class, listed as a five-star. He’s been high on Michigan State basketball and the feeling is mutual. His recruitment has been quiet, but that’s not a bad thing (Josh Langford’s felt the same way).

If Izzo can add at least one of those five-stars, I’d bet that the class finishes in the top five for a second straight year.