Michigan State may have a freshman center on its hands who is ready to matter right away.
Ethan Taylor, the five-star big man with a 7-foot-plus frame, arrived in East Lansing with the kind of expectations that usually come with a major recruit. Freshmen often need time to settle in. Taylor, though, appears to be skipping that usual adjustment period.
What he has shown at the Moneyball Pro-Am has already turned heads, and the fit looks even better when paired with the Spartans’ guard play, especially Jeremy Fears Jr. That combination is part of why Taylor is shaping up as a player worth watching closely.
Taylor talked recently with WILX News 10 in Lansing about how he has been settling in at Michigan State.
"Amazing, getting to go up against these guys every day," Taylor told Channel 10. "It's been really easy to get into the mix."
That comfort level matters, because it points to a freshman who may not just be learning the ropes - he may be forcing his way into a real role. Michigan State also has another seven-footer in transfer Anton Bonke, and the two working together in the post gives the Spartans another layer inside.
Tom Izzo has never made a habit of starting freshmen, and the recent examples are rare. Max Christie was a day-one starter in 2021, while Jaren Jackson Jr. is the other clear comparison from 2017-18, when he made the leap from high school to Michigan State without much delay.
This roster has options, and that part is clear. But Taylor’s early comfort makes it tough to imagine him sitting quietly on the edge of the rotation for long. The Spartans have a player who looks ready to see the floor often, and that could end up being a major piece of their push toward Detroit next April.
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The appearance naturally stirred some curiosity, especially with Holloman still trying to sort out his next step after a summer that included a brief look in Summer League play. He has also been pursuing a fifth year of eligibility under the NCAAs five-in-five rule, and while that process remains in the background, his return to the area was enough to get Spartans fans wondering what comes next. [Read more 🡒]