Tom Izzo has never been one to chase trends just for the sake of it, but even the Hall of Famer knows when it’s time to adapt. And in today’s college basketball landscape, that means working the transfer portal. Over the past two seasons, Izzo has added seven transfers to the Michigan State program - and it’s paying off.
Last year, the Spartans brought in Frankie Fidler and Szymon Zapala, both of whom played meaningful roles in a run that saw Michigan State win its first Big Ten title since 2020 and push all the way to the Elite Eight. That kind of postseason success doesn’t happen without key contributions from experienced newcomers, and Izzo clearly took note.
Fast forward to this season, and the Spartans have added another wave of portal talent: Divine Ugochukwu, Trey Fort, Kaleb Glenn, and Denham Wojcik. One of those names - Fort - has already cracked the starting lineup. That’s a testament to both the quality of the additions and Izzo’s willingness to trust new faces in big moments.
But not every transfer has been able to contribute right away.
Kaleb Glenn, a promising wing who transferred in from Florida Atlantic, was expected to provide outside shooting and athleticism - two things the Spartans needed after losing a significant chunk of last year’s core. Jase Richardson, Tre Holloman, Jaden Akins, Xavier Booker, Fidler, Zapala, and Gehrig Normand all moved on, leaving a void that Glenn was supposed to help fill.
Then came the setback: a leg injury before the season tipped off. Just like that, Glenn was ruled out for the year, a tough blow for a team with high expectations and a retooled roster.
But here’s the encouraging part - Glenn’s recovery appears to be ahead of schedule.
In a video captured before Michigan State’s recent game against Michigan, Glenn was seen going through pregame drills with student managers. The movement was light, but it was movement nonetheless - a far cry from the crutches he was on not long ago.
He looked smooth in layup lines, going at half speed, but looking comfortable. For a player who hasn’t seen the court since the injury, that’s a big step.
Izzo has already ruled him out for the rest of this season, so don’t expect a surprise March cameo. And honestly, there’s no reason to rush him back. Burning a redshirt year for a few late-season minutes doesn’t make much sense, especially when he hasn’t had the chance to build chemistry with this year’s group.
Still, the fact that Glenn is moving this well now bodes well for the future - and that future is shaping up to be exciting.
With his ability to stretch the floor and knock down shots at a high clip - he’s been a 40 percent three-point shooter - Glenn could be a major piece for Michigan State in 2026-27. He’s already familiar with Jeremy Fears from their time together previously, which should ease the transition once he’s fully cleared.
For now, it’s about continued progress and getting back to full strength. But the early signs are promising. Glenn is working, moving, and trending in the right direction - and that’s great news for a Michigan State program that’s already shown it can reload on the fly.