The rough weekend for Michigan State fans is officially over, and that means we can move on with our lives and forget that basketball and hockey exist until next fall. Football is going to be center stage for the foreseeable future, but Tom Izzo and the transfer portal will still be a hot topic.
Izzo’s usage of the portal is going to be monitored heavily this offseason and he already admitted that he’ll use it, but he’s going to be coaching his own locker room.
Basically, he’s going to use the portal in the way that he believes will help the program immediately, not in a way the fanbase probably wants. Fans want him to pay millions for big-time players but he wants guys who fit his system and the culture at Michigan State. And with a plethora of wings set to be on next year’s roster, I’d expect any additions from the portal to be bigs.
Arguably the most perfect addition to next season’s Michigan State team hasn’t yet announced his intention to transfer from his current school, but when he was asked about his immediate future following his team’s exit from the NCAA Tournament, it didn’t sound too certain.
That big man is Alabama’s Aiden Sherrell.
Aiden Sherrell would fit Michigan State like a glove
I touched on the idea of Sherrell coming in to be Michigan State’s starting center in my way-too-early starting five projections for 2026-27, but that was only because I watched him play and remember that he was a top Izzo target in the 2024 recruiting class. He committed to Alabama over the Spartans, but he has ties to the state since he grew up in Detroit.
Izzo was close to landing Sherrell originally, but he opted to join Nate Oats. When he was asked after Alabama’s Sweet 16 loss to Michigan if he was returning, his answer probably didn’t make Crimson Tide fans feel very secure.
“As of right now, yeah.”
If a Michigan State player gave that answer, I would immediately assume that they’re entering the portal. Sherrell might be considering finishing his career back home where the Final Four will be played, too. He could come back to play for his runner-up school and push for a Final Four in Detroit.
Michigan State needs a big man who can stretch the floor, score about 10 and grab around eight rebounds per game. Many expect Izzo to get another Szymon Zapala, but if Sherrell enters the portal, I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Spartans make a real run at him. The interest would definitely be mutual, and the fit would be glove-like.
Sherrell is a 6-foot-11 big man who has athleticism, can run well for 255 pounds, and he shot 33 percent from deep at Alabama. He could show Ethan Taylor the ropes.
Imagining a starting five with Jeremy Fears Jr., Jordan Scott (or Jasiah Jervis), Coen Carr, Cam Ward, and Sherrell has me wondering how much I need to save for Detroit Final Four tickets. He would really be the perfect addition to an already-loaded roster.