Michigan State basketball: Ideal finish to 2024 recruiting class

Michigan State basketball landed Kur Teng on Monday and is on commit watch again. But what would be the 2024 class’ ideal finish?

Tom Izzo and Michigan State basketball kicked off their 2024 recruiting class with a bang on Monday afternoon as top-40 junior Kur Teng picked the Spartans over Providence and Rutgers.

Not only was that just the perfect way to start the class, but it also may set off a domino effect much like Xavier Booker’s commitment did last summer. He committed in late July and both Gehrig Normand and Coen Carr followed suit.

Michigan State still has a few highly-rated guys left on the board, but which remaining targets would make up the ideal finish to the 2024 class?

1. Bryson Tucker, 5-star SF

If I had to pick one prospect who I see as Michigan State’s “ideal” addition in 2024, it would have to be five-star small forward Bryson Tucker.

The 6-foot-6 wing has a smooth jumper that reminds me of Max Christie and his frame is also similar. He plays with a calm demeanor, but is aggressive and he fits the Izzo mold. Tucker is a high IQ player and just looks like a future Spartan.

The five-star has one visit in mind for sure this year, and that’s to East Lansing to check out Michigan State. That has to be a good sign, right?

2. Flory Bidunga, 5-star C

The nation’s No. 1 center is interested in Michigan State and Izzo just paid him a visit last week for one of his games. Flory Bidunga is ranked the No. 3 prospect in the entire 2024 class and he would be a nice get for Michigan State basketball.

OK, he would be an elite get.

Bidunga is your prototypical center who can bruise in the paint and be physical on both ends of the floor. He would be a nice transition player following Mady Sissoko’s graduation and he could fit right into that starting lineup immediately. Just imagine if Booker comes back for a second season, the post of him and Bidunga would be unreal.

I feel like this recruitment is far from over, however.

3. Aiden Sherrell, 4-star PF

I’ve been a big fan of Aiden Sherrell for a while now and while it just doesn’t feel like he’s going to end up as part of Michigan State’s 2024 class, I still see him as a “best-case” addition at power forward.

Sherrell has taken two official visits and one was to East Lansing to check out the Michigan State basketball program. The other was to Alabama which is the program that I see being the leader in his recruitment. Landing him over Nate Oates would be massive, however.

The four-star power forward is ranked the No. 43 overall prospect and sixth-best at the position in his class, per the composite, and he’d bring the perfect amount of post athleticism to MSU.

4. Jesse McCulloch, 4-star PF/C

Last, but certainly not least, would be Jesse McCulloch who I think has a better chance to commit to Michigan State than Sherrell.

I do think McCulloch may be a better fit in East Lansing with his ability to stretch the floor and play at a high level on both ends. He can shoot the three while also playing with his back to the basket and a post scoring threat is something Michigan State has been sorely missing.

McCulloch makes his decision on April 20, he announced on Tuesday.