Michigan State basketball picked up its first commitment in the 2027 recruiting cycle on Friday, Sept. 18, when five-star point guard Antonio Pemberton announced that he will play for Tom Izzo and the Spartans.
Pemberton, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound guard, is rated by 247Sports as the No. 23 player in the class and the No. 5 point guard. He chose Michigan State over seven other finalists, giving the Spartans an early boost in a class that still has a long way to go.
Why Pemberton fits Michigan State
The commitment matters not only because of Pemberton’s ranking, but because Michigan State was the first school to land a pledge in his 2027 cycle. For a program that has long made a habit of identifying and landing guards with national appeal, the addition gives Izzo an early building block.
Pemberton said the pull of the program became clear during grind week, pointing to the energy, love and community around the coaching staff and the program as a whole. He said that support, both on and off the court, helped push him toward his decision.
That kind of response fits the profile Michigan State has often pursued. The Spartans have recruited other guards from New England, and Pemberton brings a combination of size, production and pedigree that makes him one of the more notable guards in the 2027 class.
What the guard prospect brings
Pemberton’s junior season in New Hampshire helped put him on the map. He won Gatorade Player of the Year in the state last winter and averaged 16.8 points, five assists and 3.6 rebounds. In June, he also took part in the NBPA Top 100 Camp, another sign that his profile has continued to rise.
This year, he transferred to Masters Academy International in Massachusetts to follow Jason Smith, after previously playing for him at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire. The move kept him in a familiar developmental environment while putting him in position to continue building his stock against strong competition.
Steve Hewitt, who has tracked him closely, described Pemberton as one of the most mature scorers in New England, pointing to his ability to get to his spots and thrive in the mid-range. Hewitt also called him the best guard prospect in New England’s 2027 class.
For Michigan State, the commitment gives the Spartans a high-end perimeter piece early in the cycle. For Pemberton, it gives him a clear home with a program that made a strong impression before his list got any shorter.
