Could some of the current Spartans make it to the league someday?
If anyone follows me on Twitter (sorry, X.com), you will find out pretty quickly I am a huge fan of the NBA. So, as someone who both covers Michigan State basketball and consumes the NBA product, I like to occasionally evaluate the Spartans’ roster through the lens of the team’s NBA potential.
The last player MSU had drafted by an NBA team was Jase Richardson a year ago. Before that was Max Christie in 2022. Christie has become a legitimate starter in the NBA for the Dallas Mavericks, and Richardson just competed in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Jaden Akins might eventually get a shot in the NBA thanks to strong play in the G League at his new position, point guard.
In terms of pro potential, I think this is one of the most interesting teams Michigan State has had in quite some time. Honestly, I could make a case for nearly every player on the team to at least get a look by scouts. But I also think there’s only one guy on the team who is a lock to make an NBA roster. It’s a very interesting mix of players, strengths and weaknesses that I think deserves more exploration. You can find my thoughts on each player and their potential NBA potential below.
No offense to Denham Wojcik, but I’m only going 10 deep on this list.
If you are curious where these rankings stood immediately after last season, you can view that article here.
10. Trey Fort
This is absolutely not meant to be a slight to Trey Fort having him ranked here, but someone had to be at the bottom. Really, Fort has numerous skills NBA teams covet. He’s a freak athlete who can shoot the ball. The problem is he is 24 years old. Fort sacrificed much of his pro potential by taking time off from basketball to go on a mission trip. If he had started his career at MSU instead of being a journeyman at UT Martin and Samford, he would have been higher on this list. However, NBA teams love potential, and at 24, Fort is probably not on their radar. He still might be able to have a nice pro career overseas, however.
9. Jesse McCulloch
Jesse McCulloch has the potential to rise on this list when he finally gets his opportunity for regular minutes to showcase his skills. Moving to the center position during his redshirt year will make him a more intriguing option for teams, but I wonder if he has the athleticism and foot speed to play at the highest level.
8. Kur Teng
Kur Teng is one of the purest shooters I have ever seen come through East Lansing. That alone makes him worthy of keeping an eye on. As of right now, his defense is not where it needs to be for him to even be considered by NBA teams. If he can get to just regular-bad on defense instead of historically-bad, he might have a chance.
7. Kaleb Glenn
Kaleb Glenn is one of the biggest what-ifs in recent memory for Michigan State. An elite shooter with good size on the wing and great athleticism, the idea was that if Tom Izzo could improve his defense, the sky could have been the limit for Glenn. We can only hope that Glenn comes back next year at full strength and shows the world what he can do.
6. Jaxon Kohler
This is where things get interesting. I moved these rankings around a few times during the drafting process of this article. I have to put Jaxon Kohler here because he is a little limited by his athleticism and tweener size. He’s a very smart player, a monster on the glass, and has become an elite 3-point shooter. However, Draymond Green believes Kohler should be a first-round pick this year, and if Kohler gets a chance, he could contribute at the next level.
5. Carson Cooper
Some fans may be surprised to see Carson Cooper so high on this list. As a former unranked player, it’s amazing how far Cooper has come. He offers many attributes the NBA likes in their rotation big men. Cooper has good size at 6 feet, 11 inches, sets good screens, plays excellent defense, and can finish pick-and-rolls with some impressive drives to the rim. I don’t think Cooper will be drafted, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him as a reserve big on an NBA roster at some point.
4. Cam Ward
If you watch Cam Ward play basketball or if you saw him walking down the street, you would be shocked to learn he is 19 years old. Ward is a mountain of a man, with impressive strength and athleticism, which makes him an intriguing NBA prospect. Ward is still very raw on the offensive side of the ball, but he’s already a solid defender and strong rebounder. It’s not hard to see an NBA future for Ward if he continues developing.
3. Jeremy Fears Jr.
If Jeremy Fears Jr. were two inches taller, he’d be a first-round pick in the NBA draft. Heck, if he were two inches taller, he’d probably already be in the NBA like his younger brother Jeremiah. Fears is obviously the best player on the team, and one of the best players in the country; he just has the misfortune of being born into an era where NBA teams are becoming disenchanted with smaller guards and instead value size at that position. His lack of 3-point shooting is also a limiting factor here. However, Fears’ talent is undeniable. In my last ranking of this kind, I had Fears pretty low on my list because of these factors, but the fact that he continues performing at an All-American level has started to change my mind, and it might change the minds of NBA teams if it continues.
2. Coen Carr
If it was 1996, Coen Carr would probably already be in the NBA. He isn’t just one of the best athletes in college basketball, he’s one of the best athletes in the world. Seriously. The issue is he is a touch small to play power forward in the NBA, so he will have to play small forward. At that position, it’s very difficult to play in the NBA if you can’t knock down open 3s. Carr is still at MSU because he needs to continue developing that shot. But honestly, I think whenever Carr decides to leave MSU, he will make his way onto an NBA roster just based on his potential, which is enormous.
1. Jordan Scott
It’s pretty crazy to think that, six months ago, there was a thought that Jordan Scott could take a redshirt this season. Now, he’s one of the Spartans’ most important players. Do I think that Scott is some can’t-miss NBA superstar? No, of course not. But, at this point, I would bet just about every dollar I have to my name that Scott will be an NBA player someday. Scott does everything the NBA wants in a wing these days. He can dribble, pass, shoot, defend like crazy, and even rebound. He’s a true five-tool player with nice size and athleticism. When he decides to go pro, he will have a home in the NBA, mark my words.
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