Michigan State is getting an early look at one of the more highly regarded names in the 2028 class, as four-star small forward Cole Kelly has scheduled an official visit to East Lansing for Sept. 4.
Kelly, a 6-foot-6, 185-pound wing from Neuqua Valley in Naperville, Illinois, is already drawing serious national interest. Michigan State is now part of that picture, and Tom Izzo has a chance to make a strong first impression when Kelly comes in for Grind Week.
The Spartans have not yet extended an offer, but that could be the next step if the visit goes well. Kelly’s trip gives Michigan State another shot to evaluate a prospect who is already sitting near the top of the class in several major rankings.
According to 247Sports, Kelly holds a 93 rating, which places him No. 34 nationally in the 2028 class. He is also ranked No. 10 among small forwards and No. 2 in Illinois.
His composite rating is 0.9672, keeping him firmly in four-star territory. That mark puts him at No. 67 overall, No. 17 among small forwards and again No. 2 in the state.
Kelly’s offer list already runs deep. Purdue, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Indiana, Drake, Butler, Creighton, DePaul, Marquette and Saint Louis have all jumped in.
Michigan State has not been among the schools to offer yet, but that may not last long if Kelly leaves a strong impression in East Lansing.
Izzo has been active on the recruiting trail all year, trying to lay groundwork for the future while still keeping his eye on the season ahead. That’s the constant balancing act for a coach entering his 31st year, especially with Jeremy Fears Jr., the Wooden Award betting favorite, set to lead the current roster.
At the same time, Michigan State is clearly staying aggressive with younger classes. Kelly is not currently in the ESPN SportsCenter Next Top 100 for 2028, though that could change if his stock keeps rising.
That recruiting pipeline has already been useful for the Spartans. Last year’s Michigan State class included four players who were ranked in the Top 100, and the 2027 recruits who already have visits lined up with the program have also shown up on the SportsCenter Next Top 100.
After landing a top-10 class for 2026, Michigan State is pushing to keep that momentum going in 2027 and 2028. If Izzo keeps stacking strong classes, the Spartans could put themselves in position to chase a spot among the nation’s top five recruiting classes.
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