The transfer portal is going to start heating up over the next week as the window opens after the national title game and Tom Izzo is going to start piecing together a big board of targets.
Michigan State has a glaring need in the post and everyone knows that while the backcourt is pretty well set with Jasiah Jervis and Carlos Medlock Jr. coming in to join Jeremy Fears Jr., Divine Ugochukwu, Kur Teng, and Jordan Scott.
There will, however, be elite options in the backcourt just in case Izzo wants to add one more high-level scorer or if he expects a guard or two to transfer out.
If Michigan State does end up needing another guard, one Bloomfield Hills native has just entered the transfer portal and he‘a been one of Izzo’s biggest transfer regrets.
Izzo has said on multiple occasions that he wishes he would have recruited John Blackwell a little harder because he’d be such a good fit at Michigan State, and he loves his game. Unfortunately, he was playing for a Big Ten rival coached by a friend of Izzo, Greg Gard.
Now, he’s back on the market.
BREAKING: Wisconsin guard John Blackwell plans to enter the transfer portal while going through the NBA draft process, he told ESPN. Blackwell, who averaged 19.1 points and earned All-Big Ten honors this past season, becomes the best guard in the portal. pic.twitter.com/zVaqncygPi
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) April 6, 2026
Blackwell has received plenty of praise from Izzo throughout his Wisconsin career, and he’s had some really impressive performances against Michigan State, including a 24-point outburst this year.
What would need to happen for Tom Izzo to make a run?
Obviously, as it stands right now, Michigan State doesn’t have a need for another guard, but if someone like Teng or Ugochukwu hit the transfer portal, I wouldn’t be shocked to see Izzo make a run at the Wisconsin two guard.
Blackwell would be a perfect program fit, and he’d be that go-to scorer that Michigan State had been missing this year. He would have lifted this year’s team to Final Four and national title heights.
The junior guard averaged 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting 43 percent from the floor and 39 percent from deep. How could Izzo not want one of his biggest recruiting regrets in the green and white?
Unfortunately, Blackwell is going to be highly sought after and he’ll be hearing from the best teams in the country. Plus, Michigan State doesn’t have a need for him at this moment.
Things can always change, but Blackwell is going to cost a pretty penny, too.