College hoops expert predicts 2 Michigan State basketball breakout stars

Michigan State basketball got back to practice on Monday, and everyone seemed to be in good spirits -- yes, we even saw a smiling Tom Izzo.

The Spartans return four key starters to a team that made it to the Elite Eight after winning the Big Ten by three games. That's usually good enough to draw some hype on a national stage, but the first Top 25 projection for 2025-26 was from Sleepers Media, and it didn't include the Spartans.

It seems like the chip has already been placed on Michigan State's shoulder.

Not all college basketball experts are overlooking Michigan State, however. Well-connected hoops expert Jon Rothstein, who had Izzo on his podcast earlier this offseason, unveiled his 20 biggest breakout candidates for the 2025-26 season, and two Spartans made the list.

There were plenty of Big Ten players mentioned, but Rothstein labeled Jeremy Fears Jr. and Jaxon Kohler as two of his biggest breakout candidates in college basketball this year. Those two are also team captains, as voted on by teammates, and Izzo has been speaking highly of them all offseason.

I'm led to believe that Rothstein created this list based on the intel he received from coaches and scouts this offseason which makes me feel better about him including Fears and Kohler.

It's interesting that Coen Carr didn't make the list, but I'm going to assume that means he thinks the junior has already broken out. Other than that, I can't complain much about this list.

Fears is coming off his first fully "healthy" season with Michigan State and he got better throughout the year, and Kohler had his best season as a Spartan in 2024-25, but he's capable of much more.

Solid choices by Rothstein.