Two more transfer portal options for Michigan State basketball

The transfer portal is officially closed, but a few new names are still trickling in the portal from the last few players to submit their paperwork to enter the portal. Michigan State basketball thankfully has survived this portal cycle without losing any players outside of AJ Hoggard and Mady Sissoko who weren’t expected to stay.

So now Tom Izzo and his staff can turn their full attention to the portal and recruiting another transfer to join the team.

It’s unclear if Izzo wants to add another big man down low for next season, and as the days go by it’s seeming more and more likely that he doesn’t. But two new names just hit the portal that Izzo should take a close look at if he wants to add another transfer.

Achor Achor, Samford

Achor Achor is a 6-foot-9 big man from Samford. He has played two seasons with Samford before entering the portal looking to make the jump to the Power Four level. And I think he’s a perfect candidate for Michigan State.

Achor had a solid freshman season two years ago, but he really ramped it up this past year as a sophomore. Last year he averaged 16.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.

Now I know you have to take these stats with a grain of salt because he was playing in a smaller conference, but 16 points is 16 points. I’m not confident any big man on Michigan State’s roster can get anywhere close to averaging that, so I think he’d be a huge addition to the team.

JT Toppin, New Mexico

The second new portal entrant I think Izzo and his staff should entertain is JT Toppin from New Mexico. Similarly to Achor, he too is 6-foot-9 and is coming off a huge year.

The Mountain West Co-Freshman of the Year nearly averaged a double-double this season with 12.4 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. On top of that, Toppin is an elite threat on defense as he averaged 1.9 blocks per game.

Similarly to Achor, Toppin played in a weaker conference, but the Mountain West is no joke. That conference is easily the best mid major conference, so these stats as a freshman is wildly impressive.

Izzo really can’t go wrong with either of these players. Not only would they be great additions for next year, but they’d be guys who could be impact players for Michigan State for years to come. In my mind Izzo has to get another player from the portal, and if Izzo agrees then these are two great options.