For weeks now, Michigan State fans have been putting out the bat signal for Tom Izzo every time a new intriguing big man hit the transfer portal.
One of the most intriguing transfers was Cincinnati center Moustapha Thiam, a 7-foot-2, 250-pound NBA prospect who has already played for two programs in his two-year college career. That doesn’t sound like the type of player that Izzo usually targets, but Thiam fit the exact list of requests that Michigan State fans put together for their ideal portal center.
Fortunately, Izzo agrees with Spartan fans here and he’s pursuing the Cincinnati big man who just took a visit to St. John’s. Programs like UConn, Duke, Tennessee, and Kansas are all in pursuit, too.
When it was originally reported that Michigan State was in the mix for Thiam, it felt like a long shot, especially with Charlotte’s Anton Bonke on campus this weekend, but there’s since been a positive update. Jon Rothstein reported on Friday evening that Michigan State was still in the mix for Thiam who was also hearing from almost a dozen other programs.
This is no longer a pipe dream and Michigan State fans are slowly being talked off the ledge after recent misses on Aiden Sherrell and Samet Yigitoglu.
It’s been a long two weeks for Michigan State
Ever since the transfer portal opened, Izzo has been working hard to target who he believed would be perfect fits and wouldn’t ruffle too many feathers. He has been playing things very close to his chest, but the losses of Sherrell and Yigitoglu have really put a damper on that 2026-27 outlook.
Things tides is turning once again and Michigan State seems to have several legitimate options. Michigan State could push hard for Bonke or drop some serious money for Moustapha to beat out some blue bloods. Heck, maybe Carson Cooper gets a fifth year? Who knows.
Michigan State has gone from several legitimate options to one favorite to losing the favorite back to several options. The transfer portal isn’t for the faint of heart.
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