Tom Izzo’s résumé has been picked apart plenty over the years, but one thing keeps showing up again and again: he knows how to spot talent before the rest of the country catches on.
Michigan State’s 2026 recruiting class is the latest example. Four signees, four different climbs, and in every case the trajectory points back to Izzo and his staff getting in early enough to matter.
That’s been part of Izzo’s calling card for a long time. Michigan State fans can point to classes like Kalin Lucas, Durrell Summers and Chris Allen from the early teenage years, or the 2016 group of Miles Bridges, Cassius Winston, Josh Langford and Nick Ward.
Then came Xavier Tillman and Jaren Jackson Jr. in 2017. The common thread is obvious: Izzo has repeatedly found players before they fully blew up.
The 2026 class fits that same pattern.
Julius Avent was first offered by Michigan State in June of 2025 when he was ranked No. 103 in the country. From there, he moved into the top 100, climbed as high as No. 82 and finished at No. 93 in the final 247Sports class rankings.
Ethan Taylor’s path was a little different, but it still ended with a strong finish. He was the No. 73 recruit in the country a week before the Spartans offered him, then jumped into the top 25 before that offer came. He eventually settled at No. 45 in the final rankings.
Jasiah Jervis was another clear riser. In early June of last year, he sat at No. 109 nationally, then moved into the 60s before Michigan State got involved.
After the Spartans offered, he surged into the top 40 and later committed in November. He also became a McDonald’s All-American.
Carlos Medlock Jr. may have had the wildest climb of the group. Izzo offered him when he was ranked No. 178 in the country, and he quickly shot up to No.
- After he committed, he jumped 30 more spots and eventually landed at No. 51 in the final rankings.
The pattern is hard to miss. Michigan State’s 2026 class keeps rising, and in each case Izzo was there before the market fully caught up. Whatever critics want to say about him, finding talent still isn’t one of their better arguments.
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