Going into the offseason, Michigan State fans were hoping that Tom Izzo would hit the portal like he vowed to do and maybe land a Plan A center.
For years, Izzo has taken a safe approach in the portal, adding guys who were undervalued by other major programs but who also fit his culture. He’s knocked it out of the park with guys like Joey Hauser and Tyson Walker, but he’s also had some transfers who fell short of expectations probably because it’s tough to get comfortable in Izzo’s system in just one year.
However, he’s never really spent the way he’s capable of in the portal, and that’s probably done strategically as to knock rock the boat in the current locker room.
This offseason is no exception to that usual strategy by Izzo, although he has been targeting some high-profile transfers like Aiden Sherrell, Samet Yigitoglu, and Moustapha Thiam. Izzo has also gotten potential future NBA prospect Anton Bonke on campus.
Izzo has missed on his plan A guys, he looks to be on the verge of missing on Plan B, and now he’s going to have to settle for a Plan C which is someone like seventh-year center Franck Kepnang.
However, an ideal center situation is still possible if Kepnang commits to MSU.
Carson Cooper would have to tie everything together
There’s at least a decent chance that Michigan State lands a guy like Kepnang, especially since it sounds like the Spartans held a Zoom call with him and may be planning a visit.
In that case, Michigan State can still have an ideal center situation, but it just has to be up to Carson Cooper to get a fifth year. It’s not a given and definitely not even a “likely” scenario, but the fact that the graduating big man is even considering it and has talked to the staff about it just shows that there’s at least some effort being put in here.
If Cooper were to return for a fifth year, he would lead a frontcourt that would have a rim-protecting center in Kepnang, an offensive-minded center in Jesse McCulloch, and a young budding star in Ethan Taylor. There would have to be a way to find room for two more guys at center, but the ideal situation is still possible if Kepnang were to commit.
Until Cooper is officially denied a fifth year, there is hope for a title-caliber roster in 2026-27.
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