Despite what the Twitter fanbase might be saying, now is not the time to freak out, Spartan fans. Yes, Michigan State basketball lost a lot of key pieces, but I think many people are forgetting this is Tom Izzo we’re dealing with.
The Hall of Famer has used the portal sporadically in recent seasons, but Izzo’s penchant for strategy (despite his blatant hatred for the portal and modern recruiting) has paid off. Both Tyson Walker and Joey Hauser came to East Lansing via the transfer portal, and those two have been among the most important additions to the program.
Even last season, Frankie Fidler, and Szymon Zapala proved to be crucial role players amidst the run to the Elite Eight.
Jase Richardson declaring for the 2025 NBA Draft was expected; the freshman was garnering top 10 buzz, especially after his emergence down the stretch for Michigan State. But Tre Holloman jetting off to start at another big-name high-major school? Color me surprised.
Michigan State still has Jordan Scott and Cam Ward coming in as freshmen, and Kur Teng and Jesse McCulloch are expected to step into larger roles for the Spartans this fall.
But the big concern is replicating the scoring out of the backcourt, as 64 percent of Michigan State’s scoring – including Richardson, Holloman, and Jaden Akins – is gone. With such a mass exodus coming in the backcourt, the priority for Izzo should be heavily targeting a guard in the portal with the capability to complement Jeremy Fears Jr.
Apparently, Izzo has been searching for shooters after MSU finished dead last in the Big Ten in 3-point percentage. The Spartans secured a commitment from Florida Atlantic forward Kaleb Glenn and been at the center of rumors surrounding Montana’s Malik Moore.
The 6-foot-7, 210-pound Glenn averaged 12.6 points per game and shot 41 percent from 3-point range in his sophomore season with the Owls, and even played MSU at the Breslin Center. However, the Louisville native posted just six points on a measly 0-for-5 from deep, but that didn't affect Izzo's interest.
Glenn was also a high school teammate of Fears Jr. at La Lumiere for multiple seasons, and Izzo has brought in talents such as Jaren Jackson Jr. from the prestigious prep school.
As for Moore, the 6-foot-5 junior broke out for the Grizzlies after transferring in from Pepperdine. The Ventura, Cali., native averaged 12.6 points per game on just under 41 percent from deep for a Montana team that reached the NCAA Tournament.
Both Moore and Glenn would solve Michigan State’s spacing problems with Coen Carr likely being promoted to the starting lineup, but like MSU teams of years past, they still lack a true go-to scorer.
But for Izzo and MSU, two other guards are their best options to fill the void in the backcourt. Princeton’s Xaivian Lee and San Francisco’s Malik Thomas are the best potential fits for the Spartans alongside Fears.
An All-WCC first-team selection, Thomas averaged 19.9 points per game for the Dons last year in his second season in the Bay Area. Thomas is a career 38.6% three-point shooter, as he shot around 40 percent from beyond the arc in each of the last two seasons after transferring from USC.
His frame (6-5, 210 pounds) is similar to that of Akins (6-4, 195 pounds), which means Izzo could work on his development in a similar manner.
As for Lee, he has no shortage of suitors, with Duke, Kentucky, Florida, and North Carolina among the many suitors for the 6-foot-4 junior. Lee averaged 16.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game en route to being named an All Ivy League first-team selection.
The Toronto native shot a career-high 36.6% from three-point territory in 2024-2025, but shot just 33.4% across his college career. Lee has also proven he can score against top-flight competition, as he amassed 21 points on Dec. 21 against future NBA draftee Dylan Harper and Rutgers.
Like Moore, Lee has a similar frame to Akins, one that could see Lee become the apple of Izzo’s eye this offseason.
Regardless of what you may or may not hear, Michigan State has been and will continue to be active in the transfer portal. So stay patient, and trust one of the country’s best coaches to make the correct pickups, as he has done countless times before. It will be a rocky offseason at times, but with Fears, Jaxon Kohler, and Coen Carr all returning, there is plenty of reason for optimism.