Two Michigan State basketball signees could represent Team USA at FIBA AmeriCup

The last time that Michigan State brought in an elite four-man recruiting class, it produced an All-American point guard as well as the nation’s best athlete at forward.

The time before that, the Spartans had an All-American point guard, one of the most athletic wings in the nation, a multi-year starter in the post, and a shooting guard who would have been elite if not for an injury-riddled college career. The 2026 class is the latest elite four-man group and if the Team USA U18 training camp is any indication, it’s going to yield some stars.

Michigan State is bringing in a class consisting of Carlos Medlock Jr., Julius Avent, Ethan Taylor, and Jasiah Jervis.

The latter two received major invites to the Team USA men’s basketball U18 training camp from May 21-23. They’re part of a 35-man group that will compete for 12 roster spots for Team USA which will compete at the 2026 FIBA U18 Men’s AmeriCup in Mexico.

As you can see, the potential roster could be loaded. There are some big-time names headed to Colorado Springs in under two weeks and two of them will be representing Michigan State. It’s also a great chance for Jervis and Taylor to develop some chemistry before getting to East Lansing. Medlock and Taylor have already played together, now it’s Jervis’ opportunity.

Coming to East Lansing having already played together in some capacity, Tom Izzo has to feel good about the trio of Medlock, Taylor, and Jervis.

We can’t forget Avent, too, just because he hasn’t teamed up with the rest of the class yet.

This group is going to be really good.

Comparing Michigan State’s last three 4-man classes

Let’s start with the current cycle. Here’s how the class is ranked entering their freshman season.

2026 class (No. 5 overall)

• Jasiah Jervis (No. 30, No. 5 SG)
• Ethan Taylor (No. 34, No. 4 C)
• Carlos Medlock Jr. (No. 49, No. 5 PG)
• Julius Avent (No. 85, No. 13 PF)

How does the incoming class compare, via 247Sports Composite rankings, to the previous four-man classes under Izzo?

2023 class (No. 7)

• Xavier Booker (No. 14, No. 2 C)
• Jeremy Fears Jr. (No. 32, No. 7 PG)
• Coen Carr (No. 34, No. 7 SF)
• Gehrig Normand (No. 135, No. 31 SF)

2016 class (No. 3)

• Miles Bridges (No. 13, No. 3 SF)
• Joshua Langford (No. 20, No. 3 SG)
• Cassius Winston (No. 32, No. 5 PG)
• Nick Ward (No. 45, No. 13 PF)

On paper, it’s right in the middle of the 2016 class that gave Izzo Cassius Winston, Josh Langford, Miles Bridges, and Nick Ward and the 2023 group that brought the Spartans Jeremy Fears and Coen Carr. If we’re going just by the trend, that means three guys will work out in a Michigan State uniform — the 2016 class all worked out for the Spartans and the 2023 class had two.

I have a feeling that all four are going to be very good in East Lansing.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow