There was a new college basketball recruiting rankings update on 247Sports this week, and some Spartan signees are moving up. Tom Izzo has signed a solid four-man Michigan State basketball recruiting class for 2026, and all of the signees got some respect in the latest update.
However, one stood out above the rest as the biggest riser, per Justin Thind of 247Sports.
The latest rankings update saw Ethan Taylor remain at No. 28 nationally, Jasiah Jervis jumped six spots to No. 33, and Julius Avent went from No. 92 to No. 84. These moves were solid, and showed that Izzo has a great eye for talent. Still, I think a couple of those guys are still underrated. I’d say Taylor should be a top-20 player and probably the same for Jervis.
But what about Carlos Medlock Jr.? He was the first commit in the class, and he’s been one of the fastest-rising recruits in the nation. When Izzo first started recruiting him, he was ranked in the 100-range, but now he’s flirting with high-four-star status.
Before this latest update, Medlock was the No. 66 prospect in the class. Where is he now?
The four-star point guard from Link Academy in Missouri, by way of Michigan, has jumped 21 spots all the way to No. 45 in the 2026 class. He’s now the nation’s No. 5 point guard.
Carlos Medlock Jr. in line to be the next Spartan PG great
Mateen Cleaves, Drew Neitzel, Kalin Lucas, Denzel Valentine, Cassius Winston, and Jeremy Fears.
That’s a tough list of acts to follow. All of those guys became legends at the point guard position at Michigan State, and one of them is still acting as one during his sophomore season. Medlock will have some big shoes to fill when he does eventually take over at point for Fears.
It’s pretty obvious that Medlock has that it factor that you look for in elite point guards, and that’s why Izzo pushed so hard to land him this past summer.
Going from Fears, a former McDonald’s All-American, to Medlock is almost unfair for the rest of the Big Ten. Michigan State goes from an elite point guard to an elite point guard prospect.
One of these guys will lead Izzo to national title No. 2.