Tom Izzo watched his 2025-26 season come to an end last Friday after spotting UConn 19 points and then leading his Spartans to a comeback. Michigan State would take a second-half lead against the Huskies before running out of gas in the final minutes to lose 67-63.
Losing also provided a harsh realization that Michigan State would be losing two key big men in Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper who combined to lead one of the best starting frontcourts in the Big Ten.
Unfortunately, both are now gone, and the new realization is this: Michigan State has a glaring need.
While next year’s team will be bringing in a top-five recruiting class and Kaleb Glenn and Divine Ugochukwu are both set to return from injury, Michigan State is losing two guys at an already-thin spot. The post will be returning just Jesse McCulloch and Cam Ward and it brings in Ethan Taylor and Julius Avent.
Michigan State needs help in the frontcourt and that means addressing needs at center and forward, but mostly the former. Ward, Avent, and Coen Carr can all play some power forward, but Taylor and McCulloch are the only center options, and that’s terrifying. That position is wildly unproven.
If Izzo does use the portal like he says he will, adding a starting-caliber center is critical.
Tom Izzo will have plenty of options at center
There have already been dozens of solid centers entering the portal who meet the “starting-caliber” description. I’ve seen several big-time centers who would immediately elevate Michigan State’s lineup, but the one I really want in the green and white hasn’t announced that he’s transferring yet.
Alabama’s Aiden Sherrell would be the perfect big man for the Spartans. The Detroit native grew up watching Michigan State and he fits the big-bodied, floor-spacing mold.
The best option isn’t in the portal yet and Izzo isn’t going to tamper, he’s already made that clear, but there will be several bigs who would fit right in.
Izzo did say that he’s going to use the portal, but do it his own way and he’s going to control his locker room. If that means that he’s going to pay his best guys big money to stay, that’s obviously the most important, but priority No. 2 is adding a starting-caliber center.