Analyzing Chances MSU Makes Late Addition With '5-in-5' Cases Pending
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Michigan State's roster feels pretty full at the moment, and it may be the most complete group it's been in some time.
There may be an opportunity to get even better, though. A few former Spartans, Jaxon Kohler and Tre Holloman, have court cases pending that could result in them receiving a fifth year of eligibility. The mere possibility of Kohler and Holloman being available is certainly something for Tom Izzo and the program to look at.
Why Kohler, Holloman Could Get Eligibility
Holloman and Kohler are two of many players who are just missing out on the NCAA's new "5-in-5" eligibility system. Both of them have played four seasons, but if the NCAA had implemented this system last year, they wouldn't have needed any legal action to gain eligibility. Outgoing seniors were specifically excluded, understandably so, to avoid a massive logjam of players flooding back into college sports when most teams' rosters were pretty much set (MSU included).
Carson Cooper could also gun for another year of eligibility, but he seemed to have pretty much closed the door on a return to college when he spoke at the Moneyball Pro-Am on Tuesday. He's currently on a two-way deal with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Some other athletes have already won, at least momentarily, in court against the NCAA. 15 athletes received a temporary restraining order in Ohio that has given them eligibility for the 2026-27 season.
This issue is hardly over, but the NCAA hasn't often been a winner in the courthouse as of late. Holloman expressed some confidence on Tuesday that he'll eventually be allowed to play this coming season. If Holloman and Kohler get that fifth year, the next question is whether the place they spent that season is Michigan State.
Odds of Return for Kohler
If Michigan State were to expand its roster from 15 to 16 players, my best guess is Kohler. The NCAA technically has a hard roster cap of 15, but Spartan walk-ons Brennan and Colin Walton likely have a "designated student-athlete" tag, which means they don't count towards that limit. This would give Michigan State two additional roster spots to hand out.
The main reason Kohler would be the priority is that MSU has a greater "need" in its frontcourt. Michigan State's group of centers isn't proven at the high-major level. Anton Bonke had a year at Providence where he didn't play often; Jesse McCulloch was out of the regular playing group this past March; and Ethan Taylor is, while a high-4-star prospect, still a freshman.
Kohler would quell any fears there. He averaged 12.5 points and 8.9 rebounds per game last year and took massive strides as an upperclassman. Kohler would probably be even better this coming season, and bringing him back would more than patch up what could be Michigan State's biggest weakness in a season the Spartans have national title aspirations.
Bringing Kohler back wouldn't be a simple task, though. There have been rumors linking him to BYU. Kohler's hometown of American Fork is a mere half-hour drive from Brigham Young's campus, after all. Any return would also certainly cost MSU a pretty penny NIL-wise, and it would also cause a serious disruption to the minutes of the Spartans' power forwards and centers.
Holloman Open To Return
Holloman also wouldn't rule out the possibility of playing at Michigan State again when he talked about his eligibility case on Tuesday. He and Izzo have been in general contact since Holloman's season at NC State ended, though that's not necessarily about a return. Still, if Izzo and MSU would have Holloman back, he'd be open to it under the right circumstances.
"If they have good plans," Holloman said when asked if he'd consider a return. "They are guard-heavy right now, but if they welcome me and if it sounds good, yeah, I wouldn't mind coming back."
That's the main problem. Michigan State is pretty guard-heavy at the moment. Jeremy Fears Jr. will be getting at least 30-32 minutes per game at point guard, and Carlos Medlock Jr. has been preparing to get the remainder of those minutes, as well as perhaps some time at shooting guard. The Spartans also have Jasiah Jervis, Kur Teng, and Jordan Scott all prepared to play the two.
There just isn't a need for another guard in MSU's lineup. Holloman got 23.1 minutes per game as a junior with the Spartans and 25.6 minutes per contest last season at NC State. It's tough to imagine Izzo or Michigan State promising that much playing time. From a basketball perspective, it feels like Holloman would probably have better options elsewhere.
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A 2025 graduate from Michigan State University, Cotsonika brings a wealth of experience covering the Spartans from Rivals and On3 to his role as Michigan State Spartans Beat Writer on SI. At Michigan State, he was also a member of the world-renowned Spartan marching band for two seasons.
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