This is officially the worst point of the offseason for Michigan State basketball fans. The Spartans have just been eliminated from the NCAA Tournament and they’re now looking ahead to next season while the Final Four is taking shape.
It’s horrible.
Tom Izzo has some roster decisions to make with Carson Cooper, Trey Fort, Denham Wojcik, and Jaxon Kohler all opening up roster spots. Those will be filled by four freshmen, but there could be a transfer or two that we aren’t expecting that could allow Izzo to test the portal waters.
Izzo has already said that he plans on using the portal, but he’s going to be in charge of his locker room. Basically, he’s going to get guys who he feels fit his culture.
A player who fits that exact description just hit the transfer portal on Sunday afternoon. According to reports, Ohio State forward Devin Royal is in the portal after averaging 13.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists with the Buckeyes this season.
NEWS: Ohio State's Devin Royal intends to enter the transfer portal, agent Richie Beda of WME Basketball tells DraftExpress.
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) March 29, 2026
The 6'7 junior was a key starter for the Buckeyes, averaging 13.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game this season. pic.twitter.com/rYZaVDdLIV
Royal has been one of Izzo’s favorite Big Ten players over the past few years, and it’s probably because he pursued him heavily when he was a top high school prospect.
Now, he’s back on the market as a transfer following a solid junior season, but he didn’t develop as much this year as he would’ve hoped from a breakout sophomore season. He’s a small forward so he may not currently have a spot in East Lansing even if he wanted to, but I could see some attrition requiring a player like Royal in the transfer portal this offseason.
Could we see Tom Izzo pursue Devin Royal again?
Izzo has already gone after Royal once before he ultimately chose Ohio State, and those relationships with coaches who recruited him back in high school aren’t nearly as strong anymore.
That reason alone makes me think that he might already have a school in mind.
As the roster stands right now, there’s no spot for Royal. Michigan State has no shortage of wings for next year’s team and Royal plays more of a three role. He could play a small-ball four, I suppose, but that’s not an ideal situation for the Spartans, especially since they already have a player who can do both in Coen Carr.
If we see a wing or two transfer out, I could see Izzo reaching out to Royal because he is a guy who the Hall of Famer really wanted in the green and white, but I’d be shocked if the portal was used for anything but another big man or two this offseason.