Final On3 rankings update: Where do Michigan State basketball's 2023 signees land?
Michigan State basketball has the top-ranked recruiting class in the Big Ten, according to the 2023 On3 Industry Team Recruiting Ranking. The Spartans’ class is ranked No. 6 in the nation followed by UConn, Kansas and Ohio State. Michigan State is 51 spots ahead of in-state rivals Michigan, which currently sits at No. 56 in the team rankings.
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo and his staff signed four Top 100 recruits during the 2023 recruiting cycle. Five-star PF Xavier Booker, four-star SF Coen Carr, four-star SG Gehrig Normand and four-star PG Jeremy Fears all signed with Michigan State in November 2022.
On3 released its final 2023 basketball rankings on Monday. SpartanMag.com takes a look at where the four Michigan State signees landed following the update.
Where did Michigan State signees land?
PF Xavier Booker, Indianapolis (Ind.) Cathedral
Previous: No. 8
Updated: No. 16
The Skinny: Despite falling outside of the top ten, Booker retains his five-star status according to the On3 Industry Rankings, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. The 6-foot-11, 205-pound big man averaged 15.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game during his senior high school season. Booker led Cathedral to the class 4A state championship in March. Booker also appeared in the 2023 McDonald’s All-American Game.
On3’s Scouting Report: Xavier Booker is a lengthy lefty who just moves in a way most his size does 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 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.
SF Coen Carr, Atlanta (Ga.) Legacy Early College
Previous: No. 24
Updated: No. 22
The Skinny: Coen Carr has ascended rapidly this spring due his explosive showings at dunk contests and all star events. Carr won the Rocket Mortgage Slam Dunk contest in early April. More recently, the 6-foot-7, 200-pound forward won the Ballislife All-American Dunk Contest with this viral dunk. Additionally, On3’s national recruiting analyst Jamie Shaw listed Carr as one of the most explosive players in the 2023 class. Shaw said the following on Carr’s athletic abilities: “The explosion is in the 1%. More than that, Coen Carr competes. A long 6-foot-7, he’s a versatile defender that can get downhill in the half court & has sneaky good court vision & feel.”
On3’s Scouting Report: Coen Carr is a lengthy and highly explosive forward. When he is engaged on the defensive end of the floor, he has high 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.
SG Gehrig Normand, North Richland Hills (Tex.) Birdville
Previous: No. 37
Updated: No. 44
The Skinny: Normand remains one of more underrated players in the 2023 class. Shaw sees more than just a shooter in Normand. The national recruiting analyst recently stated, “Gehrig Normand has toughness, positional size at 6-foot-6, length and vertical pop. (He) can push the break on ball, make decisive decisions, and there’s that jumper.” According to Normand’s On3 Industry Comparison, On3 remains the highest on Normand despite his slight drop in their updated rankings.
On3’s Scouting Report: 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.
PG Jeremy Fears, Joliet (Ill.) West
Previous: No. 53
Updated: No. 69
The Skinny: The 6-foot-1, 165-pound point guard averaged 18.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game during his senior season. Fears, like Booker, was also selected to the 2023 McDonald’s All-American game. Additionally, Fears won gold with Team USA in the 2022 FIBA Men’s U17 World Cup. The point guard seems like an ideal fit for Izzo’s program both on and off the court.
On3’s Scouting Report: 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.
