Michigan State basketball might be targeting a 7-foot-2 international big man

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo reacts to a play against Auburn during the second half of the Elite Eight round of NCAA tournament at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Ga. on Sunday, March 30, 2025.
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo reacts to a play against Auburn during the second half of the Elite Eight round of NCAA tournament at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Ga. on Sunday, March 30, 2025. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

On Wednesday, I wrote about Michigan State basketball potentially targeting a talented European point guard from the Israeli League (Noam Yaacov) but it sounds like Tom Izzo isn't done yet.

The Hall of Fame head coach has shifted some of his offseason focus to international prospects and it's been talked about for a couple of weeks. Now, those prospects are starting to reveal themselves.

We already heard about Yaacov being the potential backcourt addition that the Spartans need but it sounds like Izzo might also be looking into a big man with a 7-foot-7 wingspan. That's right, the rumors right now are that the Spartans are targeting a 7-foot-2 big man by the name of Lewis Obiorah and he would likely redshirt in 2025 and assume center duties next year.

Rumors quickly circulated on Reddit and from a Sleepers Podcast episode in which it was hinted that the Spartans were "secretly" targeting the 7-foot-2 big man from Europe.

Then there was this follow-up by Loomin_Knotty on Twitter. He posted Obiorah's following list on Instagram and it shows that he's following both Michigan State basketball's official account as well as Kaleb Glenn. That has to mean something, right?

Obiorah is just 19 years old with that 7-foot-7 wingspan and he averaged just over 10 points and just under 10 rebounds per game and he's also a rim protector.

The big man from Europe is a very good athlete but you can tell by his highlight reels that he's still very raw and he's still learning the game. He needs to refine his skills but he looks like a big man who could eventually become a problem in the post when he trusts his skill set a little more.

NBA scouts are high on Obiorah as a rising star in his class and if he comes to East Lansing, learns from Saddi Washington and Izzo, and makes the leap he's capable of making, he could be a legit pro prospect in a couple of years.

We'll see if Michigan State remains in pursuit.