Multiple MSU Signees Move Up in Latest Rankings Update
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Michigan State basketball's 2026 recruiting class has the chance to be truly special.
MSU has four signees set to join the team for the 2026-27 class. That group is currently ranked second nationally, according to 247Sports, only trailing Duke. That same site recently updated its rankings on Thursday, and it's only making the Spartans' class look better.
Carlos Medlock Jr.
The biggest leap for the Spartans from Thursday's update goes to incoming point guard Carlos Medlock Jr., who had quietly been MSU's most underrated recruit for a fair bit. He shot up 20 spots in 247Sports' rankings, going from 65th to 45th overall in the class of 2026.
Medlock committed to Michigan State last July. He was down at 100th overall in the class at the time. Before he officially chose the Spartans, he was down at 179th overall back in May. He's a little undersized at 5-foot-11, but is still a score-first guard who can be a key contributor for MSU next season.
Also worth noting is that Medlock is now teammates with center Ethan Taylor, who is Michigan State's top recruit in the 2026 class, at Link Academy in Branson, Mo. Taylor stayed pretty steady in the rankings update, ultimately sliding one spot from 27th to 28th in the class.
Taylor borders between four- and five-star status. On the 247Sports Composite, which factors in rankings from other sites, Taylor is a five-star at 24th overall in the class.
Jasiah Jervis
One of Michigan State's risers is forward Jasiah Jervis, who officially committed to the Spartans back in November over offers from N.C. State, Pitt, Illinois, and Tennessee. Jervis rose five spots in 247Sports' rankings, from 38th to 33rd. He's been one of the biggest risers of this cycle; at this time last year, he was ranked 109th.
Jervis is listed at 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds with a 6-foot-8 wingspan. He attends Archbishop Stepinac in White Plains, N.Y., which is located just north of the Bronx and New York City. His game at the moment mostly translates into being a two-guard at the next level, which is a place MSU is seeking a difference-maker at the moment.
Julius Avent
Also getting a slight bump is power forward Julius Avent. He's Michigan State's lowest-rated 2026 signee, but he still rose five spots from 89th to 84th overall and is firmly within four-star status. Avent, who is from Oradell, N.J., chose MSU over offers from Penn State, Xavier, Seton Hall, and Providence.
The frame for Avent is what stands out about him as a prospect. He's listed at 6-foot-7, but his wingspan has been measured at 7-foot-3. With some further development in East Lansing, Avent could become a serious weapon for Tom Izzo to utilize.
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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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