The NBA and NHL drafts have been taking place this week and Michigan State had very different luck in each one. The Spartans saw zero players selected in the 2026 NBA Draft and then there were nearly a dozen Spartans picked in the 2026 NHL Draft.
The lack of NBA draft luck has all the Tom Izzo haters (Michigan fans) out in full force as they’ve been going in on the Hall of Fame head coach after the Wolverines had three players go in the lottery. People don’t seem to realize that Izzo had one of the best developmental stories in this draft class, turning zero-star IMG B-teamer Carson Cooper into an NBA player.
Both Cooper (Memphis Grizzlies) and Jaxon Kohler (Utah Jazz) signed deals shortly after the draft concluded so they’ll both have a shot to make rosters for the 2026-27 season.
Michigan State could have had a draftee if Jeremy Fears Jr. decided to remain in the NBA draft but he decided to remove his name on the day of the withdrawal deadline. Actually, just two hours before it ended. I’m going to bet that he’s selected next year, though.
Draft experts are already releasing their early big boards for the 2027 NBA Draft and we’re seeing some Spartans get some love.
One respected draft expert has two Michigan State players in his top 60 ahead of next year’s draft.
Here is my early top 60 2027 NBA Draft Big Board. pic.twitter.com/ZkmHjSQz3t
— KJ (@KJScouting) June 26, 2026
In case you can’t see what the tweet says, KJScouting has Jasiah Jervis as a top-10 prospect and Fears is all the way down at No. 57 which is far too low, in my opinion.
I have seen next year’s NBA draft class and I’m not impressed, so if Fears drops to the late second round (assuming he declares), I would be shocked. He’s going to be the best point guard in the country this season. Fears is definitely going to shoot up some draft boards when teams see how much muscle he’s put on and how much more explosive he’s gotten.
Jeremy Fears Jr. has first-round talent
I haven’t seen many draft experts projecting Fears as a first-rounder, but he 100 percent has first-round talent. He was just missing one thing: a consistent jumper.
Fears has explosiveness, he’s one of the best ball-handlers in the country, he’s the nation’s top passer, he defends at an elite level, he added a mid-range jumper to his game, and he’s as coachable as they come and is addicted to winning. How could you not take a chance on an All-American point guard who would easily be a team leader almost immediately?
Jasiah Jervis is being projected based on potential
Spartan fans have to love seeing Jervis projected as a top-10 prospect ahead of the 2027 NBA Draft because that shows that they aren’t delusional in believing he’s going to be a star.
Jervis is obviously being projected based on potential, but maybe it’s a little higher than we all anticipated. If this holds true and Michigan State has a top-10 player in the country at shooting guard this season, anything short of a Final Four would be a disappointment.
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