Jordan Scott’s Rise: From Bench Spark to Backbone of the Spartans’ Backcourt
When Tom Izzo talks about a player “exceeding expectations,” you pay attention. And when that player is a true freshman who’s gone from a 17-minute role player to a starting shooting guard logging nearly 30 minutes a night, it’s time to take notice. Jordan Scott isn’t just filling in - he’s stepping up, and in a big way.
Scott earned his first career start against Minnesota, and he made it count. Fifteen points, two boards, two assists - the kind of stat line that doesn’t just say “I belong,” but “I’m ready for more.”
That performance came before Divine Ugochukwu’s season-ending injury. Since then, Scott’s role has only grown, and so has his impact.
Against a top-five Illinois team, Scott followed up his debut start with another strong showing - 10 points, gritty rebounding, and a timely corner three. But it wasn’t just the offense that stood out.
It was the way he embraced the dirty work. He didn’t just compete - he imposed himself.
In 29 and 28 minutes across those two starts, Scott outpaced both Kur Teng and fellow freshman Cam Ward by about 10 minutes each. That’s not a coincidence.
That’s trust.
Coming into East Lansing, Scott was projected as a 3-and-D wing, a small forward who could stretch the floor and defend. But as the season’s unfolded, he’s been asked to shift into the backcourt - and he’s responded with poise well beyond his years. He’s now ahead of Teng and transfer guard Trey Fort in the rotation, and it’s not hard to see why.
Izzo kept it simple: Scott produces. And right now, production is what the Spartans need.
Teng, for all his potential as a shooter, has struggled to find consistency - especially on the defensive end. His closeouts have been shaky, often overcommitting and allowing easy driving lanes.
Teams have started baiting him with pump fakes, and it’s cost MSU buckets. In a program that prides itself on defensive intensity - and currently ranks No. 4 nationally in defensive efficiency, per KenPom - that’s a tough pill to swallow.
Scott, on the other hand, has been a breath of fresh air defensively. He’s already shown he can lock in on tough assignments, like he did against Illinois when he held Keaton Wagler to just 2-for-14 from the field. That kind of effort doesn’t go unnoticed in Izzo’s system.
“Teng is one of your favorite players, one of your more frustrating players,” Izzo said. “He can really shoot it, and he hasn't shot quite as well this year… The biggest problem is being athletic enough to guard some of the guards he has to guard.”
That’s where Scott has separated himself - not just with effort, but with execution. He brings a motor that doesn’t quit, and he plays with a maturity that belies his freshman status.
His teammate Jeremy Fears Jr., MSU’s floor general, put it best: “It’s been really no surprise… he’s gonna give 120%, he’s gonna keep balls alive, dive on the floor. He does everything.”
That “everything” will be put to the test Friday night in Madison, where MSU faces a surging Wisconsin team at 8:30 p.m. The Badgers, sitting at 17-7 (9-4 in conference play), have been one of college basketball’s best late-game teams this season.
They’ve pulled off two of the five most improbable wins in the country, according to college hoops stat guru Evan Miyakawa - including road wins over No. 2 Michigan and No.
8 Illinois. In their last 10 games, they’ve erased double-digit deficits five times.
Wisconsin brings the nation’s 28th-ranked offense into the matchup, averaging 83 points per game. And at the heart of it all is junior guard John Blackwell - a physical, downhill scorer who’s averaging 19.5 points per game and making a serious case for All-Big Ten First Team honors.
Izzo knows Blackwell well - the Brother Rice product is the kind of player Izzo loves to coach, just not against.
“If I wasn't playing against him, I think [he'd be] one of my favorite players,” Izzo said. “He guards it, he's tough, he's strong, he can get to the rim, he can shoot threes, he can pass it. He's never out of control.”
That’s the assignment for Scott on Friday - slow down one of the most complete guards in the Big Ten. It’s a tall task for any defender, let alone a freshman making just his third start.
But if the last two games are any indication, Scott won’t back down. He’s already shown he can handle the moment.
Now, he gets a chance to prove it on the road, in one of the Big Ten’s toughest environments.
Scott came to MSU as a four-star small forward, ranked 54th nationally by 247Sports. A solid recruit, sure - but no one expected him to be this ready, this soon.
“It’s been a pleasant surprise,” Izzo said. “He has exceeded some of my expectations, especially in the areas that most freshmen struggle on.
I don't think anything bothers him; it's kind of nice. I get a lot more nervous than he gets.”
That calm under pressure, that relentless energy, that willingness to do the little things - it’s what’s earned Scott his spot in the starting five. And it’s what’s giving the Spartans a new edge as they hit the home stretch of Big Ten play.