Michigan State basketball has put together a prototypical Tom Izzo-style 2018 class
By Ian Olsen
Michigan State basketball has put together a prototypical Tom Izzo-style 2018 class, and that could work wonders.
The 2018 Michigan State recruiting class features four now-four-star recruits all hailing from Michigan: Marcus Bingham, Foster Loyer, Gabe Brown and Thomas Kithier.
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With this class, the Spartans have built a core of presumably four-year playmakers at the point, on the wing, and in the post who can develop together into stars and leaders.
Marcus Bingham may be the one with the highest upside. The long 6-foot-10 power forward resembles a young Adreian Payne. He’s a finisher and rim-protector. He can shoot outside with a fluid stroke. He has only played basketball for a few years, yet shows impressive footwork and ball handling facing the basket. His size and court awareness make him a good shot-blocker. He is rapidly improving and possesses tremendous unpolished potential.
Foster Loyer is a 5-foot-10 point guard with cold-blooded confidence who applies an acute understanding to pick defenses apart. He controls the court by constantly knowing where his teammates and their defenders are and naturally making smart plays. He is a Scott Skiles-like ball handler, passer and shooter who averages over 90 percent on free throw attempts.
Rest assured, Michigan State will have an exciting playmaker at point guard for at least the next five seasons. Before Tum Tum Nairn, all eight starting point guards of the Izzo-era led the team in scoring for at least one season. With Loyer, the team will again feature an unapologetic scorer at the helm.
Gabe Brown is a long 6-foot-8 wing with astonishing athletic ability. He has a quick release shooting both spot up and off the dribble outside and mid-range. His capability to shoot quickly and score in a variety of ways allow him to become an optimal wing to accompany a smart point guard. His height and athletic ability enable him to rebound against smaller defenders and crash the basket for putbacks. His speed, hops, sweet stroke, and multi-dimensionality give him huge upside.
Michigan State recruiting has benefited from steady channels, the most prominent of which is bringing in the best high schoolers from Michigan. The team can’t succeed long-term by solely placing all its chips into out-of-state battles with top programs for blue-blood, already-developed recruits. The team’s 19-year NCAA Tournament run almost ended last season because of swings and misses on out-of-state five-star recruits in 2013, but was saved by Flintstone freshman Miles Bridges.
The Great Lakes State is synonymous with Spartan Basketball, the state’s lone powerhouse program, and if the program is to preserve that hard-earned identity, it will be done on the backs of Michiganders.
Graduating three players after the upcoming season and likely losing three more to the NBA Draft, Michigan State needs to continue to draw more talent from upcoming classes, perhaps even from this one. But the 2018 class is a promising class with ball-handling, passing, shooting, rebounding, shot blocking and, most exciting — limitless potential.