Another transfer center target has been identified as a new 7-footer has entered the East Lansing. After missing on some priority targets last week and even to start this week, Michigan State is running low on options to replace Carson Cooper at center.
Cooper could still apply for a fifth year or wait until the NCAA makes a ruling about that five-year eligibility window but Tom Izzo needs to be proactive in the portal.
Even if Cooper is allowed a fifth year, adding someone to complement him, Jesse McCulloch, and Ethan Taylor would be more than welcomed. Adding a portal center and bringing Cooper back could give Michigan State some serious lineup flexibility. That portal center may have just been on campus.
According to Justin Thind of 247Sports, Michigan State just hosted former Duke 7-footer Christian Reeves who was a top-150 recruit in his 2022 class.
Reeves reportedly came to East Lansing and left on Monday afternoon, going right into his Kansas visit. Him leaving without a commitment could mean that Izzo is trying to play this slow and make the right decision, but he’s now been involved with Moustapha Thiam, Anton Bonke, Franck Kepnang, and now Reeves. I’m not sure who would fit best, but I’m not sure the answer is a 7-foot journeyman on his fourth school.
Reeves averaged a career-best 11.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks while shooting 65.4% from the floor with College of Charlston in 2025-26. He spent his first two seasons at Duke, then transferred to Clemson for a year, and last season was spent at College of Charlston.
I’m not sure that Christian Reeves is the answer
Izzo has reportedly hosted Bonke and now Reeves and he’s had a Zoom call with Kepnang, but I’m not so sure that any of those guys will be the answers at center. If I had to pick an order in which I’d target these transfer centers, it would go: Bonke, Kepnang, Reeves.
Reeves has bounced around a bit and he never really caught on at the high-major level despite having a strong 7-foot-2, 255-pound frame.
He averaged no more than 5.1 minutes per game with Duke and Clemson which is concerning, but he showed some growth at the mid-major level — maybe that’s just more his speed.
I shouldn’t doubt Izzo, but this is a little concerning. Reeves doesn’t scream “starting center for a title contender” to me, but Kansas is also involved, so what do I know?
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