Michigan State’s incoming freshman class has earned rave reviews from every recruiting expert and it’s because it checks off a lot of boxes with elite talent.
The class is led by three top-50 recruits: Jasiah Jervis, Ethan Taylor, and Carlos Medlock. However, there’s a fourth incoming freshman who isn’t quite getting the same fanfare as the other three: Julius Avent.
Don’t get me wrong, Avent is considered one of the best recruits in the country and for most programs, he’d be the prized signee. In a loaded four-man class at Michigan State, though, he’s the forgotten member of the class. He’s very talented and considered a bit of a tweener with his 6-foot-7 frame but he’s been touted as an aggressive forward who’s not afraid to get physical.
There’s a strong belief that Medlock, Jervis, and Taylor are going to play big minutes as true freshmen out of necessity and because they’re just too talented to sit for too long.
But Avent is often considered a guy who will be at the end of the bench and may contribute a few minutes here and there at the power forward spot.
Well, Moneyball is teasing the idea of a bigger freshman year role for the nation’s No. 88 overall recruit. According to Freep’s Chris Solari, Avent quietly scored 30 points in his Moneyball debut on Tuesday and he had 38 with five minutes left in the first game on Thursday night. He did make sure that we tempered our expectations by mentioning that Trey Fort nearly had 60 in a game last year.
Still, this is a good sign that the true freshman has some confidence and he has a deeper bag than any of us gave him credit for. Judging by the fans in attendance who have been raving about him, I think we’re all about to be pleasantly surprised by the four-star forward from New Jersey.
How Julius Avent would fit into Michigan State’s rotation
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t even considering Avent as part of the regular rotation in 2026-27, but now that there’s a five-year eligibility window so a redshirt isn’t on the table, coupled with the fact that he’s dominating at Moneyball, that means that he should probably get a serious look.
Avent scored 40 points in his second-ever Moneyball game after dropping 30 in the opener. He’s absolutely talented enough to play meaningful minutes for a Big Ten title contender.
How would he fit into the rotation at power forward, though?
Assuming Coen Carr plays mostly the three this season and Kaleb Glenn splits time at the three and four, I think Cam Ward gets the start. I do believe that Avent’s role is growing and while he may not be the primary backup (Glenn and Jesse McCulloch will likely fill that spot), he’s going to play double-digit minutes, in my opinion.
Am I overreacting to Moneyball? Probably, but when people in attendance are raving about him, it’s more than just a Tum Tum Nairn making threes situation.
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