The Replacements For MSU's Harsh Senior Exits

The Spartans lost some big players this off-season, but have brought in worthwhile replacements to take over.

Michigan State's Jaxon Kohler, center, celebrates with Jordan Scott, left, and Carson Cooper after Kohler's 3-pointer against Rutgers during the second half on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

The Spartans have been going through a whirlwind of chaos in most of their sports recently, but the basketball program has been able to get through it all without losing much of its momentum, and if anything, they are actually more poised to succeed than last year.

They have reasonable belief in their players, such as Jordan Scott, who have high ceilings and floors to accompany talent with rough edges that are being balanced out over the years with players such as Coen Carr.

MSU teammates and SPS teammates Jordan Scott, left, and Julius Avent head to the bench during a timeout in the game against Team Motorcars during the Moneyball Pro-Am on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at Holt High School. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

They have even had success within the school itself because of the return of president Kevin Guskiewicz, which single-handedly raised the ceiling of the team, but not everything has been perfect.

This is because the Spartans were forced to say goodbye to Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper, the two big men who were the most consistent leaders around aside from Izzo, but even then, there is still good to come from it, because Izzo has been hard at work finding replacements.

The First Replacement: Ethan Taylor

Team LAFCU and Michigan State's Ethan Taylor scores against Team Tri-Star during the Moneyball Pro-Am on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at Holt High School. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Surprisingly, or not surprisingly because of the team's reputation with Izzo, MSU managed to land Ethan Taylor, who actually outsizes both Kohler and Cooper, being a pretty big upgrade to the room that was already pretty big.

His height comes in at 7'1" and with the size comes a passion that was going to be questionable with many other recruits, but not Taylor, who is already showing that he wants to skyrocket in skill in East Lansing.

Michigan State and Team LAFCU’s Ethan Taylor scores against Team BLT’s during the Moneyball Pro-Am on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at Holt High School. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Izzo rarely allows freshmen to be starters right away, and that will most likely be the case for Taylor; however, when he is on the court, he is bound to make a massive difference that will allow both the experienced players on the team to thrive while spacing out the floor for his fellow freshmen.

The Second Replacement: Anton Bonke

Team Motorcars’ and Michigan State's Anton Bonke looks to pass against Team SPS during the Moneyball Pro-Am on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at Holt High School. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

While Anton Bonke is a name fewer fans will know, as he has been in college basketball for a while but not at the high level of the Big Ten, he comes in to replace Cooper almost perfectly.

Not only is he taller than even Taylor, standing at 7'2", but he plays the role of a traditional big man instead of looking to shoot from beyond the arc as Kohler did, and MSU will highly benefit from that.

Michigan State and Team Motorcars’ Anton Bonke shoots a free throw against Team Faygo during the Moneyball Pro-Am on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at Holt High School. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

If he can bring his game up to the level of the Big Ten, Bonke will be the game changer for MSU this season, but if he can't, there will likely not be a true replacement around.