Michigan State Basketball: Spartans land 2023 four-star Coen Carr

One of the hottest teams in the college basketball recruiting world continued their good fortune when Tom Izzo and Michigan State Basketball landed four-star wing Coen Carr on Tuesday afternoon.

What are the Spartans getting in Carr?

Diving into some highlights and game action, Carr is clearly a gifted athlete. He’s an explosive leaper off of both feet. His ability to finish at the rim is going to be very good from the start of his career. He’s got good size at 6’7 and should be able to play some three and four for Michigan State. Carr isn’t a great shooter just yet, but he has the potential to develop into one.

The athleticism should shine on defense where Carr can guard a few positions, and use his athleticism to be a disruptor. The Big Ten doesn’t have the best athletes typically, so Carr could be a game-breaker with his sheer force.

With Gabe Brown out of eligibility, the 2022-2023 Spartans lack true wing depth. Pierre Brooks (sophomore) is a bigger guard, and Malik Hall is more of a four-man. Both players could return for the 2023-2024 season, but even then, I expect Carr to get the opportunity to start from day one. He has NBA potential so it’s plausible that he leaves early, but if Carr stays, he could be a crucial multi-year player in what’s shaping up to be a resurgence in East Lansing.

What does this mean for Michigan State?

Just mere weeks ago, there was certainly some growing concern about the future of Michigan State basketball. After two years of finishes in the middle of the Big Ten, and one tournament win in that span, Tom Izzo decided to stand pat and didn’t snag any big-name transfer additions.

It was fair to question if the “new-age” recruiting with NIL and the transfer portal was not something that would suit Izzo. But, in the past month, Izzo has landed commitments from Carr, five-star Xavier Booker, and three-star wing Gehrig Normand in the class of 2023, to pair with top-50 point guard Jeremy Fears Jr.

This class might not have the high-end upside that their 2016 class with Miles Bridges and Jaren Jackson Jr., but having multiple guys across different positions that can contribute right away, and grow as a group, is how title teams are constructed. Booker is likely a one-and-done player, but Fears, Normand, and Carr should spend at least a few seasons together.

The transfer portal isn’t going away, and recruiting it to fill in some gaps will still be needed. But as it looked like Michigan, Illinois, and maybe Indiana was shaping up to be the top programs in the Big Ten the next few seasons, Izzo has reminded us all that he’s still here. The 2022-2023 team might not be great, but the future is bright in East Lansing.