Michigan State basketball’s 2026 recruiting haul just hit dynasty mode, as 5-star center Ethan Taylor, the hulking 7-foot-1 phenom from Link Academy in Branson, Missouri, announced his commitment to the Spartans on Friday afternoon, sending Tom Izzo’s program into euphoric overdrive. Taylor, a Kansas native who transferred to the powerhouse prep school this summer, chose MSU over blue-blood suitors like Kansas, Oregon, Indiana, and Oklahoma during a live CBS Sports ceremony that had Green faithful glued to screens from the Upper Peninsula to Grand Rapids. Ranked as the No. 2 center and No. 23 overall prospect in the class per 247Sports Composite, Taylor’s pledge vaults the Spartans’ quartet into the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class, a masterstroke for Izzo as he eyes Final Four redemption after a 20-15 Sweet 16 finish in 2025. “This is the cherry on top,” Izzo beamed in a post-announcement text to beat writers, his voice likely cracking with that trademark East Lansing grit.
Taylor’s journey to green-and-white glory is a tale of rapid ascent and Midwestern magnetism. Originally from Shawnee Mission Northwest High in Kansas, the 244-pound behemoth exploded onto radars with his summer dominance for MoKan Elite on the Nike EYBL circuit, averaging 9.4 points and 8.8 rebounds while flashing a 7-foot-3 wingspan that turns the paint into a no-fly zone. His commitment reunites him with Link Academy teammate and fellow MSU pledge Carlos Medlock Jr., the crafty 5-11 point guard who’s already inked his national letter of intent this week. The duo, alongside 4-star sharpshooter Jasiah Jervis from New York’s Archbishop Stepinac and power forward Julius Avent from New Jersey, forms a balanced core primed for Izzo’s motion offense—think rim-running lobs from Medlock to Taylor’s soft-touch hooks and Jervis’ catch-and-shoot fire. Taylor, whose rankings skyrocketed from No. 67 in January to top-25 status, gushed about the fit: “Coach Izzo recruited me harder than anyone; the fans chanted my name and crowd-surfed me on my visit—it was insane.”
What sets Taylor apart isn’t just the size—it’s the skill set that screams NBA lottery. Scouts rave about his unselfish passing from the high post, shot-blocking instincts that evoke a young Rudy Gobert, and surprising agility for a frame still growing (he’s up to 7-foot-1.5, per his own measure). In an era of stretch-fives, Taylor’s old-school paint presence blends with modern touch: solid hands for entry passes, rebounding tenacity (he’s grabbed 15+ boards in EYBL tilts), and early signs of face-up mobility that could make him Izzo’s next big-man unicorn like Jaren Jackson Jr. Izzo, ever the developer of raw talent, sees echoes of his 2019 title core: “Ethan’s a hard worker who hits the ground running,” the Hall of Famer said on his pregame radio show before Thursday’s 79-60 rout of San Jose State. With the Spartans’ current bigs like Carson Cooper and Xavier Booker eyeing pro paths post-2026, Taylor slots in as the anchor, potentially redshirting a year to bulk up without sacrificing eligibility.
The ripple effect of Taylor’s “yes” is seismic for a program reloading after losing guards like Jeremy Fears Jr. to injury and transfers. MSU’s class, now locked and loaded at four deep, edges out Duke and Kentucky for the No. 1 spot on 247Sports, a coup that silences whispers of Izzo’s recruiting dip in the NIL era. Recruiting insiders peg this group as Izzo’s best since the 2000 “Flintstones” crew, with Taylor’s pledge sparking a domino: expect more Link Academy targets and Midwestern pipelines to flood Breslin Center. “They’re gonna get a hard worker,” Taylor promised, his words a vow to the diehards who’ve packed the Izzone through lean stretches. As Big Ten play tips off next month—MSU sitting at 3-0 with a date against No. 4 Auburn looming—this commitment feels like jet fuel for March madness dreams.
Social media lit up like a Breslin buzzer-beater, with #Spartan5Star surging to 1.5 million mentions overnight. Alumni like Mateen Cleaves tweeted fire emojis and “Welcome to the family, big fella—let’s eat!” while current stars like Tyson Walker posted throwback Izzo big-man montages on IG. Rivals like Kansas’ Bill Self offered gracious congrats—“Tom earned this one”—but Jayhawk fans flooded timelines with salt, lamenting the in-state loss. In East Lansing, impromptu watch parties at Crunchy’s and the Peanut Barrel devolved into chant circles: “Ethan! Taylor!” For a fanbase nursing football frustrations, this is pure catharsis—the basketball gods smiling on Izzo’s unyielding pursuit.
As Ethan Taylor inks his letter next week, Michigan State’s horizon gleams brighter than the Palace’s rafters. In a landscape of poached portals and cash-laden collectives, Izzo’s old-school charm—relentless texts, family dinners, that Izzone roar—netted a crown jewel. Taylor isn’t just a commit; he’s the spark for a renaissance, a towering testament that East Lansing’s magic still moves mountains. Go Green—bigger, bolder, and ready to run the table.
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