Coen Carr’s growth over the past couple of seasons doesn’t get enough attention.
In fact, I just saw a video on Twitter today that said that Carr would’ve been in the NBA two years ago if he didn’t play for Tom Izzo. I won’t link that video because I thought it was sloppily made and filled with false statements, but people truly believe that Izzo is holding Carr back, apparently.
Anyone who has watched Carr play, however, knows that he was pretty raw outside of being a tremendous athlete and dunker. He came to Michigan State as a world-class athlete and that was pretty much what he did as a freshman: dunk. As a sophomore, he developed his game a little more and even started to add a jump shot to his arsenal.
Carr shot just 15 threes through his first two seasons in East Lansing, and he’s made 16 during his junior season. He’s starting to really look the part of a future NBA player.
Need more proof that Carr has improved? While his shooting percentage is down to 51 percent this season when it was 61 last year, he’s taking 3.5 more shots per game.
Carr has improved in essentially every statistical category and facet of his game this season, but Izzo is positive that he’s not even done developing yet.
Tom Izzo’s quote on Coen Carr should have fans intrigued
Izzo has been pretty adamant that Carr is one of the hardest working players that he’s coached and he said that he will never give up on his junior forward.
After Michigan State’s win over UCLA in which Carr had 16 points and did a little of everything on the offensive end, showcasing his all-around game, Izzo spoke to the media about his athletic forward. He gave a quote about Carr’s potential that should have everyone excited.
Izzo speaks to Coen Carr’s work ethic this year and his athleticism.
— Spartans Illustrated (@Spartans_Illo) February 18, 2026
“We think the guy who can really take two more steps is Coen.”
If Carr takes two more steps, he’s going to be a legitimate Big Ten Player of the Year candidate. He’s already averaging 11.9 points and 5.2 rebounds while shooting over 50 percent from the floor and around 30 percent from deep. If he takes 1-2 more steps, he’ll be averaging 15-plus points, six-plus rebounds, over a block per game, and he’ll be shooting 35 percent from deep and 50 percent from the floor.
The potential is actually scary.
Even more intriguing is the idea that he’s likely to take that step this offseason. Some of the biggest jumps we’ve seen from players are from their junior to their senior years (Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper are great examples). I’d expect a 15 and six line next season, at least, but if he takes those two more steps like Izzo says he can, he’ll have All-Big Ten first team numbers.
I’m sensing a huge improvement this offseason and even over the course of the final month of the season.