With some major question marks heading into the 2025-26 season, Michigan State basketball fans are hopeful that some of them can be answered by a couple of guys from the 2024 recruiting class.
The class consisted of Jase Richardson, Kur Teng, and Jesse McCulloch, and in 2024-25, it was the former that carried the group. He was the only one who played meaningful minutes, eventually earning a starting spot, and then locking himself into a first-round draft pick.
McCulloch, on the other hand, redshirted, and Teng played minimally but probably should have redshirted. Tom Izzo probably hoped he would give the Spartans a shooter off the bench.
That never happened.
Teng and McCulloch now enter the 2025-26 season with raised expectations. There's been plenty of hype surrounding Teng, and Izzo even said that he separated himself as the team's best outside shooter this offseason which means he could be a legit starting shooting guard option. McCulloch has also received some praise this offseason, but he missed Moneyball because of an injury, so fans weren't able to see this progress.
However, player development specialist and trainer Jack Stevens posted a video of his workout with McCulloch, and it's now clear that he's going to be a legit offensive post threat.
Had another great May with Michigan State’s Jesse Mcculloch @JesseMcCulloch4 at 6’10 with a tremendous work ethic he is super skilled and smooth. Very promising four years ahead of him pic.twitter.com/6z2g2DZK4M
— Jack Stevens (@jstevetraining) August 6, 2025
McCulloch is showing off solid handles for a big man, he has a good-looking jumper from mid-range and deep, and he's showing off some impressive footwork in the post. This is the type of game that the offense has sorely missed from post players since Jaren Jackson Jr. -- Marcus Bingham Jr. showed some flashes and Jaxon Kohler is doing a little more of this, too.
If Michigan State can get McCulloch to be an inside-out big who can knock down the occasional jumper and has a back-to-the-basket game, this offense shouldn't skip a beat.
After hearing hype surrounding Coen Carr, Jeremy Fears Jr., Teng, Cam Ward, Trey Fort, and McCulloch this offseason, the season can't get here soon enough.