The transfer portal giveth and the transfer portal taketh. Just hours after losing backup guard Divine Ugochukwu to the transfer portal, Tom Izzo and Michigan State landed a 7-foot center.
The news was bad to start Wednesday but things have since gotten better with the news of Anton Bonke’s transfer to Michigan State, per Joe Tipton. This comes just days after Bonke took a trip to East Lansing and left without committing. Many expected the Spartans to move on to Franck Kepnang and Christian Reeves, but it sounds like Bonke is going to be the guy.
While the Spartans could decide to add one more big via the transfer portal, it looks like the roster might be set with Bonke committing on Wednesday afternoon.
The move comes shortly after Michigan State hosted Reeves earlier this week and seemingly fell out of the running for Cincinnati star Moustapha Thiam. While I would have loved Thiam in the green and white, you can’t fault Izzo for moving quickly with Bonke when he realized that his options were limited and the portal was thinning out.
Adding a 7-foot-2 center that’s more skilled than what Szymon Zapala brought to the table in 2024-25 is big. Zapala was a starting center for a Big Ten title squad. Bonke can be just that, and more.
I really like this pick-up for Michigan State.
What does Anton Bonke bring to Michigan State?
Besides size, Bonke has what it takes to become a legit NBA prospect by this time next year.
Although he’s listed as a junior, he’s played just two seasons of college ball after coming from overseas, and a new five-year eligibility window could allow him two more seasons. Either way, Ethan Taylor and Jesse McCulloch are now going to have an ideal complementary piece after losing Carson Cooper and Jaxon Kohler.
Sure, there’s still a chance that Michigan State brings in another big or brings Cooper back, but adding a guy like Bonke who can excel in the pick-and-roll and who can shoot threes (13-for-38 this year) as a 7-foot-2 behemoth is going to pay major dividends.
The sky is no longer falling. Bonke is no superstar, but this is a positive addition. He averaged 10.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks with Charlotte last year.
Maybe one more big man addition and the roster is title favorite-worthy.
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