Michigan State Basketball: Top 2021 targets post-Pierre Brooks commitment

After Pierre Brooks’ commitment to Michigan State basketball, who are the Spartans’ top remaining 2021 recruiting targets?

Michigan State got its 2021 recruiting class tipped off on Wednesday with the commitment of four-star shooting guard Pierre Brooks from Detroit and there are a couple of spots remaining to be filled.

While a kid like Emoni Bates could reclassify to the 2021 class, the likelihood of that happening is low and therefore he won’t be looked at as a top target in the next cycle.

Who are the top remaining 2021 recruiting targets for the Spartans?

Admittedly, this one isn’t likely for Michigan State. The Spartans recruited Malaki Branham over last summer and had him on the radar, but Tom Izzo has seemed to cool off on him a bit.

There aren’t any Crystal Ball predictions for him on 247Sports so that could mean his recruitment is still wide open, but it seems like the Spartans have prioritized other shooting guards, including a five-star from out of state.

Branham is a healthy 6-foot-4 and 175 pounds and he plays like a slasher in the same mold of an Aaron Henry. He is a solid shooter and good athlete, but his outside game isn’t his strength. He can handle the ball and defends well which is kind of what Izzo looks like in a shooting guard so it’s surprising that Branham isn’t higher on his list.

The four-star guard is ranked the No. 26 player in the country as well as the fourth-best shooting guard and No. 2 prospect from Ohio, per 247Sports.