Michigan State reportedly still in the mix for elite 7-foot-2 transfer center

The past week has been full of ups and downs for Michigan State and after missing on Aiden Sherrell and Samet Yigitoglu to Indiana and then hosting 7-foot-2 big man Anton Bonke over the weekend.

Things have gone from “Michigan State feels good about Sherrell” to “maybe Carson Cooper would come back for another year” in a hurry. Sherrell was seemingly the top target and Michigan State made a serious run at him before he ultimately chased a better deal at Indiana. Losing two priority transfer center targets hurt, especially since they went to the same Big Ten program.

Fortunately, Tom Izzo kept his options open and he’s in the running still for Bonke as well as one of the best transfer centers still on the market.

According to the center himself, Michigan State is one of the schools still in the running for elite transfer Moustapha Thiam. Unfortunately, there are nine other programs pushing for him, too.

St. John’s has been pushing hard for him lately and he recently visited Rick Pitino’s program but he still remains uncommitted which is a good sign for the rest of the field.

Seeing UConn, Gonzaga, Duke, Kansas, and Tennessee pushing for Thiam means that this is going to be an absolute battle for the Spartans, but I wouldn’t be shocked if Izzo attempts to get him on campus before he makes a final decision. This is probably the best player that Izzo has targeted in the portal this offseason so it’s safe to say that this would be a welcomed addition.

Get a visit from Thiam, and I’ll start actually counting this as a possibility.

Moustapha Thiam is fits the “missing piece” description

THe 7-foot-2, 250-pound big man from Senegal is one of the most skilled bigs in the country and he’s proven that over his two-year career with Cincinnati and UCF. He’s attempted over 130 threes over two years and while he’s making just 29 percent, he’s a capable shooter who can stretch the floor — that’s exactly what this offense needs at center.

When you think of a perfect “missing piece” at center for Michigan State, Thiam is pretty much the perfect example. He’s got elite size, he’s a willing defender (2.1 blocks, 6.8 rebounds through two years), he can score from all three levels, and he can run the floor. Not only can he be a lob threat for Jeremy Fears Jr., but he can also be a pick-and-pop option.

That’s almost impossible to guard defensively.

A starting lineup with Thiam at center would probably be top 1-2 in the Big Ten, if not the country. That would add size, rim-protecting, rebounding, and shooting. That’s missing piece material.

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