Connect with us

BB RECRUITING

Tom Izzo on pace to accomplish recruiting feat he’s never achieved before

Hall of Famer’s gonna Hall of Fame.

Published

on

Tom Izzo
© Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Tom Izzo is currently on pace to accomplish a recruiting feat that he’s never achieved in his two-plus decades as a head coach.

There’s no doubt about it, Tom Izzo is motivated.

Not only is he motivated to get better as an Xs and Os head coach, but he’s driven to become a better recruiter. And he’s doing a heck of a job.

Just last month, Izzo took an empty 2024 recruiting class and leveled it up to a two-man group with Kur Teng and Jesse McCulloch both committing. Teng is ranked the No. 38 overall recruit in the class while McCulloch in No. 85, according to 247Sports. Both have combined to give Michigan State the No. 9 class in the country for 2024 with a ways to go before it’s all sewn up.

And that’s the thing, it’s not even done yet.

If Izzo can land a couple more four or five-star guys, he will likely finish with another top-five recruiting class nationally after landing the 2023 class’ No. 4 overall group.

Believe it or not, he’s never pieced together back-to-back top-five classes before. This would be the first time in his Hall of Fame coaching career that he would have two straight top five classes. And let me remind you, he’s entering his 29th year with the Spartans. Having his best recruiting success three decades in? That’s a scary thought.

Let’s take a look at how his classes have ranked, by year, since 247Sports began them:

  • 2001: 7th
  • 2002: NR
  • 2003: 24th
  • 2004: 13th
  • 2005: 142nd
  • 2006: 13th
  • 2007: 9th
  • 2008: 10th
  • 2009: 42nd
  • 2010: 9th
  • 2011: 19th
  • 2012: 12th
  • 2013: 79th
  • 2014: 40th
  • 2015: 25th
  • 2016: 3rd
  • 2017: 49th
  • 2018: 17th
  • 2019: 27th
  • 2020: 51st
  • 2021: 12th
  • 2022: 36th
  • 2023: 4th
  • 2024: 9th (so far)

As you can see, Izzo has only landed top-10 classes back-to-back one time (2007-08) and his best stretch had to be from 2006 to 2012 when he landed six top-20 classes and three top-10 classes.

But even during that stretch, he didn’t have as much success as he’s having in the 2023 and 2024 classes. And he’s not done yet. He’s about to accomplish a big-time feat that only guys like John Calipari and Duke achieve regularly.

But I though the game had passed him by?

BB RECRUITING

Xavier Booker “relentless” in recruiting 4-star guard Jase Richardson

The incoming freshman wants Jase Richardson to join him in 2024.

Published

on

Xavier Booker
© Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

Michigan State freshman and five-star Xavier Booker has been “relentless” in his pursuit of Jase Richardson.

With all of the 2023 class freshmen arriving on campus, it feels only right that Michigan State fans look ahead to the 2024 class.

Tom Izzo just landed arguably his best class ever, headlined by Xavier Booker, Jeremy Fears, Coen Carr, and Gehrig Normand. He’s now aiming to land an equally impressive 2024 class that currently has four-stars Jesse McCulloch and Kur Teng committed.

One of the top targets left on the board is a legacy recruit: Jase Richardson.

The son of Spartan legend and NBA star Jason Richardson has spoken highly of Michigan State over the past year and he even took an official visit back in October. Since then, he’s garnered a ton of interest from major programs including Alabama, Arkansas, San Diego State, USC, and Virginia. He’s weighing his options.

At the recent Pangos All-American Camp, he spoke with 247Sports’ Brandon Jenkins about his recruitment and he said that he is planning officials to Alabama and Cincinnati.

He also said that one Michigan State player is “relentless” in his recruitment: Xavier Booker.

The five-star big man from the 2023 class has apparently been doing some recruiting of his own, per Jenkins’ interview with Richardson.

“Every coach calls me every other day. I like the culture there. Everybody there is family. Xavier Booker has also been relentless in recruiting me.”

Surprised to hear this? A lot of people might be considering Booker was widely considered by Spartan fans to be a one-and-done prospect. Some experts, however, believe that he could be a 2-3 year type of player based on his frame and raw skills. Patience has been the word used by some recruiting experts regarding Booker.

As for the recruitment of Richardson, it’s cool to see that a highly-regarded player like Booker is putting in work to get Jase to Michigan State. You don’t often see that. Who wouldn’t want a five-star and top-10 player in the country to say they want to play with you?

This could be one heck of a recruiting tool for Izzo.

Richardson told Jenkins that he plans on committing before his season starts in the fall. He’s the No. 44 overall recruit and No. 7 combo guard in the nation, per the 247Sports Composite.

Continue Reading

BB RECRUITING

Michigan State basketball prioritizing 5-star SG Isaiah Elohim

Elohim would be a heck of a 2024 addition.

Published

on

Michigan State basketball
© Andrew Jansen/News-Leader / USA TODAY NETWORK

Michigan State basketball is one of six schools reaching out the most to five-star shooting guard Isaiah Elohim.

In a tweet from 24/7 High School Hoopsit was recently revealed that Michigan State basketball, among five other programs, is showing plenty of interest in highly-ranked shooting guard Isaiah Elohim from California.

The 6-foot-5, 190-pound Elohim isn’t an athletic freak like Coen Carr, but has excellent size, speed, and athleticism regardless. He also has a good shot and excels at scoring the ball from around the court. It’s easy to envision him being the kind of guy in the future who can drop a flurry of jumpers and take over a game.

Elohim is currently attending Sierra Canyon in Los Angeles, Calif. This is big-time basketball school that has produced plenty of NBA talent, including Kenyon Martin Jr. and current Detroit Piston Marvin Bagley. It’s also the same school that Bronny James attended. The fact that Elohim was able to excel at such a prestigious basketball school (against excellent competition) gives me plenty of confidence that he can translate to the next level.

Tom Izzo will have to beat out other big-name programs such as Kansas, UCLA, Duke, Kentucky, and Baylor (who have also reportedly been showing interest) for the top-20 ranked shooting guard. Michigan State just capped off a top-five ranked class for 2023, but keeping the recruiting hot streak going for 2024 would be massive for the program. The more five-stars you have, the more five-stars you get — talent wants to play with talent.

Look for a visit to be scheduled soon.

It might be time for Izzo to land his latest five-star.

Continue Reading

BB RECRUITING

Coen Carr throws down incredible free throw line dunk (Video)

Coen Carr is a freak.

Published

on

Coen Carr
© Michael Caterina / USA TODAY NETWORK

Coen Carr flashed his elite athleticism once again, throwing down a dunk from the free throw line this weekend.

Incoming MSU freshman forward Coen Carr has displayed his extreme athleticism all offseason. It seems like every week a new video surfaces of him doing something mindboggling.

Today’s highlight shows Carr dunking from the free throw line.

This is something that most NBA players can’t even do but Carr looks like he is able to do this with ease and had the whole gym rocking in the video.

Coen Carr is one of four players joining the Michigan State Basketball program this season, joining five-stars Xavier Booker and Jeremy Fears as well as four-star Gehrig Normand. According to 247Sports, he is the No. 31 player in the class and No. 7 at his position. Carr was not always ranked this high, but his ranking skyrocketed during his senior season as he vastly improved his game.

Michigan State’s 2023 class is one of Tom Izzo’s best ever. The Spartans class is No. 4 in the country and is the best in the Big Ten. Each freshman will be ready to play day one and will mesh perfectly with the returning players.

What will Coen Carr do next? My guess is we won’t have to wait too long to see his next high-flying dunk shock the internet. He’s going to tear the roof off of Breslin next year.

Continue Reading

Trending