Tom Izzo has built a reputation as one of college basketball’s most consistent winners, but what often flies under the radar is just how sharp his eye for talent really is. Sure, he can reel in the blue-chip prospects - the five-stars who headline recruiting sites - but Izzo’s real strength might lie in identifying the players who haven’t blown up yet, the ones simmering just below the surface. And once again, it looks like he’s done it with Carlos Medlock.
Let’s rewind for a second. The last time Michigan State landed a recruit who saw his stock soar before signing was Xavier Booker, part of that loaded 2023 class alongside Jeremy Fears, Coen Carr, and Gehrig Normand.
Booker started out as a promising but relatively low-profile four-star, ranked closer to the 100s than the top 10. But by the time he committed to the Spartans, he was a consensus top-10 player and one of the premier big men in the country.
While his time in East Lansing didn’t quite match the hype, the process of identifying and developing that kind of talent remains a hallmark of Izzo’s recruiting strategy.
Now, it’s Carlos Medlock’s turn in the spotlight - and his trajectory is looking eerily familiar.
Medlock has been on the rise for months, but his performance at the Hoophall Classic this past weekend might be the moment his national breakout truly begins. According to Rivals’ Jamie Shaw, Medlock was the third-best performer on Day 1 of the event, trailing only Missouri commit Jason Crowe and Arkansas pledge Abdou Toure. That’s elite company, and it’s another feather in the cap for Izzo, who seems to have once again spotted a gem before the rest of the country caught on.
When Michigan State first started recruiting Medlock publicly, he was sitting in the low 100s nationally. In fact, as recently as May 2025, 247Sports had him ranked all the way down at No.
- Fast forward to now, and he’s climbed to No. 65 on 247’s board and No. 72 in the composite rankings - a massive leap in just a matter of months.
And after what he just showed at Hoophall, don’t be surprised if that number keeps climbing.
For context, the Hoophall Classic isn’t just another high school showcase - it’s the stage for elite prep talent. We’re talking about a platform that’s featured the likes of Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum, Zion Williamson, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, and more recently, Cooper Flagg and Cameron Boozer.
If you shine here, people notice. Scouts, coaches, analysts - they’re all watching.
And Medlock didn’t just show up; he stood out.
What makes Medlock’s rise even more exciting for Michigan State fans is how he fits into the bigger picture. The Spartans’ backcourt for the 2026-27 season is shaping up to be one of the deepest and most dynamic groups in the country. With Jeremy Fears returning, and Medlock joining a rotation that includes Divine Ugochukwu, Jasiah Jervis, Kur Teng, and potentially Jordan Scott sliding over from the wing, Izzo is going to have options - a lot of them.
Going from a floor general like Fears to a rising star like Medlock is the kind of backcourt succession most programs dream about. It’s not just about having talent - it’s about having layers of it. And in East Lansing, that’s becoming the norm.
Izzo’s ability to find players like Medlock before they become household names isn’t luck - it’s a pattern. And if Medlock’s current trajectory continues, he could be the next in a long line of Spartans who arrive underrated and leave unforgettable.