Ethan Taylor Chooses Michigan State, Boosting Tom Izzo’s Recruitment Rank
Michigan State University (MSU) has made a significant advancement in its basketball recruitment for the 2026 class with the addition of top center Ethan Taylor. The 7-foot-1, 244-pound athlete officially committed to MSU on November 14, 2023.
Ethan Taylor’s Impact on Michigan State Basketball
Taylor’s commitment comes after a successful recruiting period for head coach Tom Izzo. He joins three other four-star recruits: point guard Carlos Medlock Jr., shooting guard Jasiah Jervis, and swingman Julius Avent. This quartet of players boosts MSU’s ranking potentially into the top five nationally, as noted by 247Sports.
Recruiting Highlights
- Ethan Taylor:
- Ranked No. 23 nationally and the second-ranked center in 2026 by 247Sports.
- Transferred from Shawnee Mission Northwest High to Link Academy in Missouri.
- Chosen MSU over competitive programs like Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Oregon.
- Carlos Medlock Jr.:
- 5’11”, 165-pound point guard.
- Ranked No. 66 overall and No. 7 at his position.
- Previously attended Wayne Memorial before moving to Link Academy.
- Jasiah Jervis:
- 6’4″, 190-pound shooting guard.
- Ranked No. 38 overall and No. 3 at shooting guard for 2026.
- Currently plays for Archbishop Stepinac in New York.
- Julius Avent:
- 6’7″, 220-pound forward from Bergen Catholic High, New Jersey.
- Ranked No. 92 overall and No. 15 at power forward.
Future Outlook
With the talent of Ethan Taylor and the other recruits, Tom Izzo’s squad is well-positioned to compete for the Number 1 recruiting class by the end of the current cycle. 247Sports Director of Scouting, Adam Finkelstein, noted that Taylor may be the most physically gifted big man in this year’s recruiting class.
Izzo expressed confidence in his coaching staff and team, stating, “My staff did a great job, my players did a great job. And we’ll see what that leads to in the future.”
This promising class signifies a bright future for Michigan State basketball, which looks to maintain its competitive edge in college basketball under Izzo’s leadership.
