Tom Izzo is active in the transfer portal right now as the window has officially opened and the Hall of Famer is trying to supplement Michigan State’s roster with an elite center.
Everyone has been pretty much in agreement that Michigan State is a top-tier transfer center away from being a legit national title favorite, and adding an ideal big like Aiden Sherrell — likely the No. 1 center target — would give the Spartans one of the best starting fives in college basketball.
Sherrell would complete a loaded starting five that would have fans thinking about a Final Four in Detroit next year and Izzo’s second national title.
Here’s what the projected lineup would look like if Sherrell picks Michigan State:
PG: Jeremy Fears Jr.
SG: Jasiah Jervis/Jordan Scott
SF: Coen Carr
PF: Cam Ward
C: Aiden Sherrell
The only position that‘a truly a toss-up right now would be shooting guard and while landing a guy like John Blackwell would fix that immediately, it doesn’t look like the Spartans will be looking at anyone outside of the center spot. There are going to be three guys vying for minutes at shooting guard.
I see Kur Teng coming off the bench while Jasiah Jervis and Jordan Scott battle it out for the starting job. Either way, the Spartans will have a strong two guard.
This lineup would have every Spartan fan looking into Final Four tickets in Detroit.
A starting five with Aiden Sherrell makes Michigan State a title favorite
Landing Sherrell would have to be priority No. 1 in the transfer portal for Izzo and Co. and that’s because he’s familiar with the Alabama transfer and recruited him heavily in high school.
If the Spartans can land Sherrell, that gives them an elite rim protector who can rebound and score from the post as well as from beyond the arc. Sherrell can stretch the floor, he rebounds well, he can be a lob threat for Jeremy Fears Jr., he can run, and he’s an elite rim protector. That’s exactly what the starting five is missing heading into the offseason.
Adding Sherrell would mean that the Spartans have a true center who can stretch the floor, a power forward in Cam Ward who can dominate in the post, a small forward in Coen Carr who can do a little of everything and can defend the 2-4, shooting guards in Jervis and Scott who can both be go-to scorers, and an elite point guard in Fears who’s coming off an All-American season.
Add in a deep bench with guys like Teng, Jesse McCulloch, Kaleb Glenn, Divine Ugochukwu, Carlos Medlock Jr., Ethan Taylor, and Julius Avent and you have a lineup that can hang with anyone.
Before adding an elite center transfer like Sherrell, Michigan State is a top-five team. After adding him, the Spartans would be legit national title favorites.