Julius Avent has been kind of the forgotten four-star in Michigan State’s loaded 2026 recruiting class and that’s not exactly fair to him. For most programs, he would be the premier incoming recruit, but that just goes to show how good Tom Izzo’s 2026 class truly is.
As a freshman Avent will likely assume a smaller role than the rest of his first-year teammates only because he’s going to be buried behind a few guys at both forward spots.
While he’s listed as a power forward, Avent is versatile enough to play the three as well. He’s 6-foot-7 and weighs in at about 220 pounds so he has solid size, but he has to put on a little more muscle this summer if he’s going to crack the rotation. I don’t exactly see him having a huge role right away, but he has plenty of talent and I believe that he will be a solid 3-4 year player.
Is there a chance that he redshirts this season? I think there is, especially since Jesse McCulloch did a couple of years ago. He could sit down with Izzo and realize that’s his best option.
I do see a role for him on this year’s team as a 3/4 hybrid who can score around the rim but also has touch from mid-to-long range. He’s more talented than people realize.
What will Julius Avent’s role be in 2026-27?
If he doesn’t redshirt, I believe that he will assume the role that McCulloch had this past season which was playing 5-7 minutes per game, providing some relief off the bench for Cam Ward and the aforementioned McCulloch, and being able to stretch the floor and defend multiple positions.
What people don’t realize is that he has a 7-foot-3 wingspan so he can be one of those plus defenders on the wing or at the four and really make that his calling card early on.
If he can defend at a high level which I do believe he can, he’s going to be a little more raw as a freshman. He may have length but he’s not the quickest player nor the most athletic. He needs to work on his footwork on both ends of the floor because he’s not quite quick enough to be able to defend threes off the dribble.
I see a McCulloch-type role, playing around five minutes per game, working on his shot that’s still a work in progress, and averaging around 2-3 rebounds and 2-3 points.
We’re going to see the biggest growth from Avent from his freshman to his sophomore year.
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