Welcome to the collegiate basketball offseason, when everything is guesswork and we must wait seven months before Michigan State returns to the court.
Way-too-early top 25 lists are already being released, and the Spartans are expected to be in the top five to begin the 2026-27 season by practically everyone, putting enormous pressure on Tom Izzo to find the glaring need that we all see in the portal.
Izzo needs a center, and if he loses a guard, he may look to the transfer portal for a substitute. With the transfer portal open on Tuesday, there are several high-level centers on the market, as well as a guard or two that I would like to see Izzo use to upgrade a position.
If Izzo can get any of these guys while keeping his current squad, I believe Michigan State becomes the favorite to win it all.
- Aiden Sherrell, C, Alabama
Anyone who has been following along knows that Aiden Sherrell is my top choice for Michigan State. The exceptional center has two years of eligibility left, and the Spartans were in his top group before he committed to Alabama. Before committing to Nate Oats and the Crimson Tide, he paid an official visit to East Lansing, but the Detroit native made too much sense for the Spartans.
Sherrell is a 6-foot-10, 255-pound center who averaged 11. 1 points, 6. 2 rebounds, and 2. 2 blocks per game as a sophomore for the Tide, while also stretching the floor by shooting nearly 34% from beyond the arc. He’d be a great fit for the role and might stay for two years.
- Flory Bidunga, C, Kansas.
This is one of those pipe dream possibilities that I don’t believe Michigan State would invest to make happen, but if Flory Bidunga does choose the Spartans, it would give them their finest center since Xavier Tillman. The same might be said if Sherrell commits, but Bidunga is expected to be the portal’s top player, and he will want a significant sum.
Bidunga was on Michigan State’s radar as a five-star prospect, and now that he’s back on the market, he’s back on their radar. He averaged 13. 3 points, 9. 0 rebounds, and 2. 6 blocks per game. He would be an ideal two-way player, lob scorer, and rim protector for MSU.
- Somto Cyril, C, Georgia
Up there with Bidunga. In terms of pipe dreams, Somto Cyril was the first center to enter the portal who truly caught my interest, most likely because of his asking price.
Cyril was one of Draymond Green’s favorite players this season, and I’m hopeful that the former Spartan is urging Izzo to pursue the Georgia big man. He had a very productive season for the Bulldogs, averaging 9. 3 points, 5. 4 rebounds, and 2. 2 blocks while shooting practically 76% (!! ) from the court. The 6-foot-11 center would be a very effective two-way player.
- John Blackwell, SG, Wisconsin.
It may be unusual to see a guard on this list, but I believe that if John Blackwell wishes to attend Michigan State, you should find space for him. Do I believe Michigan State will be able to make room? Sure, if someone from the backcourt transfers, but if Izzo uses a roster place on a guard rather than a center, supporters will be furious. I don’t see it unless there is a surprise departure.
If another guard was required as a result of transfer, I would expect Blackwell to be at the top of the list. The skilled shooting guard, a Michigan native, played the last three years at Wisconsin and was described as “the one that got away” from the 2023 recruiting class by Izzo.
Blackwell is a top-three player in the portal, and many expect the Michigan native to join Illinois to play for his father’s alma mater. This season, he averaged 19. 1 points and 5. 1 rebounds per game.
- Bryson Tiller, PF/C, Kansas
Bryson Tiller would be a decent replacement if Bidunga is unavailable. The previous five-star big guy had a strong rookie season with the Jayhawks, averaging 7. 9 points, 6. 1 rebounds, and 1. 3 blocks each game. He plays a different game than Bidunga since he can expand the court, but he needs to improve his three-point shooting (only 26. 9% in 2025-26).
The rookie has three years of eligibility remaining and will make a significant move next season regardless of where he goes. His potential is sky-high, and I believe he would be an excellent addition with the greatest ceiling.
