Michigan State coach Tom Izzo vowed after Spartans’ loss to North Carolina in the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament that he will get MSU back to a deeper run in the NCAA Tournament or that, “I’m going to die trying.” Izzo’s first crack at making good on that vow will come with a 2024-25 roster that is replacing some offensive firepower.
The Spartans’ top three scorers are gone from a 20-15 team that struggled to reach the lofty visions associated with a No. 4 preseason ranking. But instead of letting the frustration of unmet expectations drive him to the transfer portal, Izzo mostly opted to double down on internal development.
Nebraska-Omaha forward Frankie Fidler transferred in to use his final season of eligibility with the Spartans, and former Longwood center Szymon Zapala will also compete for minutes. However, most of the faces in the team’s 2024-25 rotation should be familiar to Michigan State fans. A three-man freshman class has also arrived to help lay the foundation for future season.
Izzo, who will turn 70 this season, is entering his 30th year on the job and has made a remarkable 26 straight NCAA Tournament appearances. He’s won a national title, reached eight Final Fours and claimed 10 Big Ten regular season titles. But despite all the accomplishments in his storied career, he’s left no doubt that he’s hungry for more.
As the 2024-25 season approaches, here’s what Michigan State’s rotation could look like as Izzo begins his fourth decade on the bench.
Projected starting lineup
1. Tre Holloman
6-2 | 185 | Jr.
Holloman began blossoming as a sophomore last season, averaging 5.7 points and 2.4 assists while providing a reliable source of grit off the bench. The former four-star prospect should see another uptick in role amid the departures of AJ Hoggard and Tyson Walker. If his career 39.8% 3-point mark holds up over a higher volume, he’ll be tough to keep out of the starting lineup.
2. Jaden Akins
6-4 | 195 | Sr.
Akins is back for his fourth and final season after starting all 35 games for the Spartans last year, when he averaged 10.4 points per game on 36.4% 3-point shooting. With leading scorers Tyson Walker and AJ Hoggard departed, Akins will likely be called upon to facilitate more offense than he did over his first three seasons. Could he be in for a senior season jump?
3. Frankie Fidler
6-7 | 217 | Sr.
Fidler averaged 20.1 points and 6.3 rebounds as a junior at Omaha last season. He stretched the floor as a 35.6% 3-point shooter while earning all-Summit League honors. Now, he’ll get a chance to shine on the sport’s big stage during his final season of eligibility. Fidler led the team in scoring during its three-game exhibition tour in Spain during August and is expected to play a key role.
4. Xavier Booker
6-11 | 240 | So.
Booker is in line for a major increase in role after offering glimpses of his potential while logging 9.2 minutes per game as a freshman. The former five-star prospect can play power forward or center and is capable of stretching the floor as a 3-point shooter. He earned more of Izzo’s trust as the 2023-24 season progressed and averaged 12.3 points per game during the Spartans’ three-game summer tour in Spain.
5. Carson Cooper
6-11 | 245 | Jr.
Cooper started eight games last season and averaged 17 minutes per game, which is third among Michigan State’s returning players. The Michigan native is a strong interior presence and rated as the team’s best defender, per evanmiya.com. His rim protection and defensive motor should be enough to earn him a significant role.
Bench
Jeremy Fears
6-2 | 190 | R-Fr.
Fears appeared in 12 games before he was shot in the leg in late December, which forced him to miss the rest of the season. The former McDonald’s All-American was granted a medical redshirt for the season and was back in uniform for the Spain trip. As a former top-35 prospect, he’s got plenty of potential and just needs some seasoning in the high-pressure world of playing guard for Izzo.
Coen Carr
6-5 | 225 | So.
Carr is an incredible athlete who wowed Michigan State fans with some highlight-reel dunks as a freshman while appearing in all 35 games. His offensive role was limited, but Carr impacted the game as a high-energy lob threat and versatile defender. If the Spartans can conjure together enough floor-spacing, it may allow Izzo to flex Carr into the starting lineup
Jaxon Kohler
6-9 | 245 | Jr.
With Mady Sissoko gone, it should theoretically open the door for Kohler to play more after he logged 9.3 minutes per game as a sophomore. But the arrival of Zapala from Longwood means the competition for minutes remains fierce in the Spartans’ frontcourt.
Jase Richardson
6-3 | 185 | Fr.
Richardson is Michigan State’s highest-rated freshman after finishing the 2024 recruiting cycle ranked No. 37 by 247Sports. He made significant contributions during the team’s overseas trip and appears to the the freshman who is best-positioned for a steady role. He is the son of former Michigan State star Jason Richardson.
Depth
Szymon Zapala | 7-0 | 245 | Sr.
Gehrig Normand | 6-5 | 190 | R-Fr.
Jesse McCulloch | 6-10 | 240 | Fr.
Kur Teng | 6-4 | 190 | Fr.
Zapala averaged 9.8 points and 5.6 rebounds for Longwood last season after three years as a little-used reserve at Utah State. Normand’s perimeter offense will give him a chance to earn minutes, but he may need more seasoning. Teng and McCulloch both appear to have several veterans ahead of them in the pecking order.
