Signing Day: Michigan State signs top-5 class

The letters of intent are in, and all four committed players in Michigan State’s 2023 have signed. The Spartans class currently ranks fourth in the 2023 On3 Team Rankings. Their 96.60 class score ranks them first in the Big 10.

Michigan State’s class

Five-star C Xavier Booker

Height/Weight: 6-10/205
High School: Indianapolis (IN) Cathedral
2023 On3 Consensus: No. 7

Xavier Booker was one of the fastest risers in the recruiting world during the summer of 2022. He earned MVP honors at the Pangos All-American Camp in June 2022. Booker’s performance capped off what was a great 2022 season, where he led Indianapolis (Indiana) Cathedral to the Class 4A state championship in March. As a sophomore at Cathedral, he only averaged four points and three rebounds a game. But those figures jumped to 12.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per game while shooting 36% from 3-point range his junior year. He was born in Missouri but moved to Indiana in first grade.

Booker is a lengthy lefty who just moves in a way most his size do not. He has a lot of pop in his step and fluidity in his movements. While he is a more perimeter-based big right now, you see the ability to alter shots and the rim and rebound in traffic. He will need to get stronger and maybe pay more attention to the rebounding, but there is upside as a switchable type of defender. Booker is a good spot shooter with consistent three-point range. He can push the break and has counters when he gets cut off, but he will need to work on not getting too deep with the ball. He runs the floor well. Strength will be a bit thing, will help with his stamina. There is immense upside here for the Michigan State commitment.

Four-star PG Jeremy Fears

Height/Weight: 6-1/170
High School: Joliet (IL) Joliet West
2023 On3 Consensus: No. 38

Jeremy Fears grew up in what he describes as a basketball family. His father played hoops, as did his aunt and his grandmother. His younger brother, Jeremiah Fears, is also a highly-regarded player in the 2025 recruiting class. Fears played basketball at Joliet (Ill.) West before transferring to La Lumiere in Indiana. He transferred back to Joliet West before his senior year. In 2021, Fearsplayed on the USA Basketball Men’s U16 National Team at the 2021 FIBA Americas U16 Championship. He also was on the USA team for the 2022 FIBA Men’s U17 World Cup, where he won a gold medal and finished tied for third in the competition in assists. In addition to Jeremiah, he also has another younger brother and a younger sister. Two television shows he enjoys are All American and Stranger Things.

Leadership is the takeaway from watching Jeremy Fears. He has a voice, and whichever team he is on listens. Fears is a point of attack point guard. Quick-twitch guarding the ball, when he’s locked in, he makes things tough at the point of attack. Fears will need to continue working on his reads. The jump shot is streaky, but he can knock down a mid-range jumper off the bounce. Fears has more explosion than he looks. Won a gold medal with u17 USA basketball this summer.

Four-star SF Coen Carr

Height/Weight: 6-7/200
High School: Greenville (SC) Legacy Early College
2023 On3 Consensus: No. 52

Coen Carr started his high school career at Hampton (Georgia) Dutchtown before transferring to Greenville (South Carolina) Legacy Early College after his sophomore year. He made his first national team appearance in August 2022 as a member of the 2022 USA Basketball 3×3 U18 World Cup Team. The 6-7 forward won the 2021 Chick Fil A Classic Dunk Contest when he took off from the free-throw line on his final attempt.

Carr is a lengthy and highly explosive forward. When he is engaged on the defensive end of the floor, he has a tremendous upside there. He is switchable and has the upside to guard up and down a lineup. Offensively, he is most comfortable cutting off-ball and playing out of the dunker spots. The jump shot needs work, as does his creation in the half-court, but he is gaining more confidence with the ball. He does a lot of things that fit the modern game.

Four-star SG Gehrig Normand

Height/Weight: 6-6/175
High School: North Richland Hills (TX) Birdville High
2023 On3 Consensus: No. 51

Gehrig Normand is a talented catch-and-shoot prospect with range and undervalued athleticism. He easily finishes above the rim in transition or on straight-line driving opportunities. Shows bounce off one or two feet. Has the strength and competitive trait to play through contact. Normand will compete for space and rebounds. He can go get his shot against players of equal size and similar quickness. Normand has the ability to elevate over smaller and quicker defenders but will not create straight-line drives in that scenario. He’s worked hard to become a complete offensive player but has to be cautious of trying to do too much. Comes from an athletic family. Father played college football at Kansas State for Bill Snyder.