Michigan State simply cannot catch a break. After Tom Izzo vowed to use the transfer portal, he has been swinging and missing on some of his reported priority targets.
The Spartans were heavily involved with Aiden Sherrell before he chose Indiana over the school he grew up watching as a kid from Detroit. Samet Yigitoglu was also a target before he, too, committed to the Hoosiers. There were also secondary targets like Luke McEldon who jumped on opportunities at smaller programs instead of waiting on Michigan State.
Now, a dream scenario addition like Moustapha Thiam looks like he’s now trending elsewhere. Not only is he trending elsewhere, but he’s looking like a potential Michigan Wolverine.
An unfortunate update popped up on Saturday evening as the Cincinnati big man was reported to be taking another visit — to Michigan.
Cincinnati transfer Moustapha Thiam will take a visit to Michigan on Monday, a source tells @247Sports.
— Travis Branham (@TravisBranham_) April 19, 2026
Ranks as the No. 12 overall transfer in the portal. Visited St. John’s earlier this week. https://t.co/QvAdJ5Kjvm pic.twitter.com/qUFphgn0J1
This can qualify as the worst possible update regarding the elite big man from Cincinnati. Not only are the Spartans likely losing any shot of landing Thiam, but there’s a non-zero chance that he’s playing for Michigan next season. Not landing Thiam wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world but losing him to your biggest rival who just won the national title and who wasn’t even on his list a day ago.
What a disheartening update for Spartan fans.
Michigan State fans are growing restless
All Izzo needed to add from the transfer portal was a starting-caliber center and all he’s done is miss on some of his top targets. He’s gone from “in the mix” to watching these guys take big paydays to play elsewhere.
Obviously Izzo knows how to coach and he’s going to have a team that’ll contend for a Big Ten title next season, but he’s a center away from being a national title favorite.
And he’s willing to go into the 2026-27 season with Ethan Taylor and Jesse McCulloch as his center options, it seems. Maybe Anton Bonke can commit and surprise everyone or Carson Cooper can get a fifth year of eligibility. Who knows. Time is running out to find a quality center in the portal or address that position with limited options.
This is currently worst-case scenario.
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