Tom Izzo Says 'Homegrown' Talent is Undervalued in the Portal Era After Win Over Kentucky

by: Jacob Polacheck3 hours agoPolacheckKSR

Nov 18, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo reacts during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Michigan State handily defeated Kentucky 83-66 in the Champions Classic, in a battle of two teams that built their rosters in very different ways. While Kentucky was a team filled with transfers, MSU was a team filled with what Tom Izzo called “homegrown” talent.

The transfer portal era has, at times, been compared to NBA Free Agency. Instead, Michigan State opted to focus on adding high school talent and developing them through its program. Among MSU’s 14 players on its roster, 11 were recruited out of high school.

Izzo responded to a question postgame on whether “homegrown” talent is undervalued in the sport right now. His answer was clear as day, especially after the win over Kentucky.

“How about 100 freaking percent,” Izzo said. “Homegrown people that are playing for the name on the front of their jersey because they know the name on the front of their jersey, people that care about the place they’re at and the players they’re with. I give credit to a lot of people. Everybody does it a different way, but it’s funny you ask that question because that seems to be the people that are getting the most credit.”

Two of Michigan State’s active transfers, Divine Ugochukwu and Denham Wojcik, combined for only 11 total minutes against Kentucky. The only other active transfer, Trey Fort, had a solid performance, scoring 13 points in 18 minutes. The rest of Michigan State was all “homegrown talent.”

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“The transfer portal recruitment is almost bigger than winning games. Not at Michigan State,” Izzo said. “Someday it could hurt me. I’m going to do what I gotta do, but I also don’t give up on the people I got, and that’s what we call development, and that’s what you call working with players, and you stick with them, and they stick with you.”

Nov 18, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Trey Fort (9) shoots the ball as Kentucky Wildcats guard Jasper Johnson (2) defends during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Kentucky Still Has Its Own ‘Homegrown’ Talent

While Michigan State’s homegrown talent got the job done on Tuesday, Kentucky has its fair share of homegrown talent. Collin Chandler joined Kentucky last season as a freshman after a mission trip and had 10 points in the game on Tuesday.

Trent Noah is another sophomore who has spent his entire college career at Kentucky, but his night was quieter, going scoreless in 10 minutes. Kentucky’s two in-state freshmen, Malachi Moreno and Jasper Johnson, had some positive moments in Tuesday’s game.

Moreno finished with nine points in 20 minutes, while grabbing four rebounds and dishing three assists. Johnson had eight points in 14 minutes, going 3-for-7 from the field, including 1-for-4 from three-point range.