The #15 recruiting class in the country joins an already talented and deep MSU roster. Jace Richardson (4* CG), Kur Teng (4* SG), and Jesse McCulloch (3* PF/C) bring new faces to a roster that the fanbase very much wanted to see refreshed. This is in addition to welcoming Frankie Fidler (4* SF) by way of the transfer portal.
Each player brings something a bit different to the table. Let's dive into the recruits themselves, where they fit in the lineup and what we can expect in terms of contributions as a freshman.
Jace Richardson - The 6-3 / 180 combo guard isn't as athletic as his dad, let's get that out of the way. But he's no slouch, ranked as the #33 player in the country and a Top 5 CG. He comes in at the #3 PG behind Tre and Fears.
Here are a few notes from Adam Finkelstein of 24/7 Sports: "High versatile, impacts the game on both sides of the floor... good on and off ball. Explosive above the rim. Making progress from 3".
Kur Teng - At 6-4 / 185, he has the look of a typical SG, and reminds me a bit of Jeremy Langford. Teng is a Top 50 recruit and Top 10 SG. Smooth jumper, well built, very steady player. There's a bit of a logjam at the 2 & 3 spot, with vets like Akin, transfer Fidler, Carr, Tre and RS-Fr Gereg Normad all expected to get minutes. If Teng can be a plus player defensively, Izzo will trust him, and find minutes for him early.
Jesse McCulloch - The only big man in the class (6-9 / 190), entering a position battle that's far from settled despite the returning players. The recruiting analysis has shifted a lot in the last year. McCulloch was originally pegged as a classic stretch-4, with a decent 3-ball but lower-level rebounding. Now it seems his rebounding improvement and size increase have shifted his potential role to that of a 4/5 hybrid that can stretch the floor and still do some dirty work. Booker is the only big on the roster that I expect has guaranteed minutes. Cooper and Kohler have different specializations, but the drop-off to McCulloch might not be as big as originally expected. So he has a chance to get some time. Similar note to Teng, it will be his defensive ability that will get him on the floor.
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