Less than 24 hours after going scorched earth on his team after a 19-point win, Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo received some great news: five-star center Ethan Taylor is a Spartan.
The five-star center from Link Academy in Missouri committed to Michigan State on Friday evening over the likes of Oklahoma, Oregon, Indiana, and Kansas.
Taylor now becomes the fourth commitment in the Spartans’ 2026 class that was already ranked in the top 10 on 247Sports. This gives Izzo his biggest class since that 2023 group that featured Xavier Booker, Coen Carr, Jeremy Fears Jr., and Gehrig Normand.
Many believe that Taylor’s commitment makes this class even better.
The commitment also means that Izzo now has his big man of the future in the first five-star commit since that 2023 class (Booker). He has a high ceiling and many recruiting experts believe he could be the best big in the 2026 recruiting class.
Not only is this big news for the immediate future, but the long-term vision for Izzo. He sees a future lineup with Carlos Medlock Jr. and Taylor (current teammates at Link Academy) to go along with Jasiah Jervis and Julius Avent. He recruited guys that aren’t locks to be one-and-done-type players, but also have the ability to be that good.
Also, this quiets the “why can’t we ever get a 7-footer?” crowd.
Taylor is an athletic 7-footer who has the ability to create for himself and play at a high level on both ends of the floor. He’s ranked the No. 23 overall recruit in the class as well as the second-best center.
Izzo’s still got his fastball, folks.