Tom Izzo knows how to identify talent, and there’s no better example of that than Carlos Medlock Jr., a 2026 Michigan State basketball signee.
When Izzo began recruiting Medlock, the point guard prospect was ranked in the 100s nationally. He wasn’t being pursued by elite programs like he should’ve been, and Izzo was able to build a strong relationship with the point guard before he left for Link Academy in Missouri.
Since committing to Michigan State, Medlock has seen a massive rise in his recruiting ranking, going from the 100s, as mentioned earlier, all the way up to the top-50 range, per some recruiting sites.
One site just launched its latest update on Monday, and Medlock saw one of the biggest rises of anyone in the 2026 class.
The Michigan State signee is now ranked On3‘s No. 8 point guard in the 2026 class, and No. 49 overall prospect. Before the latest update, Medlock was the No. 70 recruit in the 2026 class on Rivals/On3. He’s finally getting the respect he deserves from one of the biggest recruiting sites out there.
Medlock is now the third Spartan signee ranked in the top 50 according to most services, joining Jasiah Jervis, a McDonald’s All-American, and Ethan Taylor.
The rest of Michigan State’s 2026 class also got updated
Michigan State has three top-50 recruits in its 2026 class, along with Julius Avent who probably should be ranked a little higher, but Izzo will take him with a chip on his shoulder.
Here’s where the Spartans rank in the latest On3 update:
- Jasiah Jervis, SG — No. 23 (no movement)
- Ethan Taylor, C — No. 29 (-5)
- Carlos Medlock Jr., PG — No. 49 (+21)
- Julius Avent, PF — No. 84 (+5)
Everyone either stayed put or moved up, besides Taylor. The five-star big man slipped five spots in On3’s update while his Link Academy teammate jumped 21 spots.
Michigan State has one of the best recruiting classes in the country yet again, and it’s headlined by three top-50 guys who all had a case to be McDonald’s All-Americans. In the end, though, Jervis will be the Spartans’ lone McDonald’s All-American — the first since Jeremy Fears and Xavier Booker in 2023.
The excitement surrounding this class is building by the day.