Michigan State basketball should target Kentucky transfer Keion Brooks Jr.

Michigan State basketball should add a big name to its transfer target list as Kentucky’s Keion Brooks Jr. entered the portal on Friday.

Tom Izzo’s stance on the transfer portal continues to ring louder every day. Every single time a big name enters the portal and Michigan State doesn’t reach out, it feels like Izzo is purposely avoiding the utilization of the portal.

But it’s adjust or die in the college basketball world.

If you don’t get with the times and utilize the portal, there’s a good chance your program is going to fade into irrelevance. Izzo is in danger of watching Michigan State slip behind other Big Ten programs by not taking advantage of opportunities in the portal.

The Hall of Fame head coach has landed some transfer players recently in Tyson Walker and Joey Hauser, but he faces an important offseason with the need for a few more scholarship players.

Izzo is already targeting Oakland transfer Micah Parrish, but another name entered the portal on Friday and he should be at the top of the list of targets for the Spartans.

Keion Brooks Jr. was once a top target for Michigan State in the 2019 class as a five-star recruit. He was ranked the No. 24 prospect in the class and the sixth-best small forward. While he may not have an outside shot that Izzo wants from his wings, he could be a strong leader and veteran presence at the three or four and he’s capable of approaching double-double range.

In three years with the Wildcats, he averaged 8.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game while shooting 47 percent from the floor.

Brooks was one of Izzo’s most sought-after recruits in the 2019 class and he’s been in East Lansing multiple times for visits and he almost committed to the green and white in the end, but ended up choosing Kentucky.

This would be an ideal addition for Izzo and Co., even if Parrish commits and Max Christie returns. A strong, 6-foot-7 forward who knows how to win and can hold his own in the post? Yes, please.