Michigan State boasts intriguing mix of linebackers in new scheme
An offseason roster overhaul will have Michigan State fans double-checking jersey numbers this fall. That is the case at linebacker, but unlike other positions, it wasn’t gutted by the portal. The Spartans return a trio of players with starting experience and added a handful of transfers.
Source: MLive.com
Michigan State adds Florida Panthers prospect Vladislav Lukashevich
Michigan State has added defenseman Vladislav Lukashevich for the 2024-25 season, Nathaniel Bott reported Tuesday. Drafted by the Florida Panthers in the fourth round of the 2021 NHL Draft, Lukashevich was previously committed to Northern Michigan but decommitted from the team earlier this year.
Source: The Hockey News
Michigan State rookies Tyson Walker, Malik Hall begin NBA Summer League play in Vegas
Like nearly everything in the NBA, Summer League has expanded over time. What used to be a single, widely-understood entity now requires qualifiers – which site? Which dates? Who’s playing?The Las Vegas Summer League, where the entire league convenes, is viewed as the complete and legitimate experience. And two former Michigan State standouts got their first taste of it on Saturday.
Source: Spartan Tailgate
Tom Izzo seen recruiting two top recruits in person
Tom Izzo and his staff have been hitting the recruiting trail extremely hard recently. It seems like every other day Izzo is seen watching a top recruit play, and that was seen once again over the past few days when Izzo has been watching two of the top recruits in the country.
Source: Spartan Avenue
Spartans land commitment from in-state 3-star ATH Bryson Williams
Michigan State football has added another in-state commitment to its 2025 class. Three-star Athlete Bryson Williams of Orchard Lake, Mich. announced his commitment to Michigan State on Thursday evening. Williams picked the Spartans over Harvard, Kansas, Rice and Pittsburgh.
Source: Spartans Wire
Michigan State Athletics Announces 2024 Hall of Fame Class
Six individuals and a trailblazing pair of teams are included in the 2024 Class for the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame. Jessica (Beech) Bograkos (softball), Anson Carter (hockey), Darqueze Dennard (football), Laura (Kueny) Smith (women’s golf), Beth (Rohl) Saylors (women’s track & field), and Paul Terek (men’s track & field) will be joined by the 1965-1966 football teams, who become the first teams inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Source: Michigan State University Athletics
Coen Carr discusses his role for sophomore season
“Last year just wasn’t my time, so we had the older guys … all the older guys deserved to play,” Carr said at the 2024 Moneyball Pro-Am on Tuesday. “So, I mean, I wasn’t complaining about that. I felt like coach put the best lineup out there that he could have put out there. So, yeah, just knowing that, just knowing that we got kind of like a fresh start, that I can come in and play a way bigger role than I did last year.”
Source: Spartan Nation
MSU’s basketball team makes an impression at Moneyball: 3 quick takes
It’s clear Fidler is going to be an impact player for MSU this season. At minimum, after Tuesday night, he’s more intriguing than he was before. He’s big, he’s seasoned, he’s a smooth offensive player, a strong secondary ball-handler, a proven shooter — beyond the pro-am — and he appears to see the game instinctually, be it a no-look pass off the catch or finding a cutting teammate out of a trap.
Source: Lansing State Journal
There is yet another positive Xavier Booker update
Entering his sophomore season, the former five-star center is working hard to ensure he can’t be kept on the bench for long by Izzo.It’s already been documented that he’s gained weight. According to Chris Solari, he’s up to 243 pounds and possibly grew another inch (to 7-foot-0, maybe?). He spent some time this summer working out with the best NBA player in the world, LeBron James, and his son, Bronny.
Source: Spartan Avenue
Blackhawks sign Artyom Levshunov to entry-level contract, pulling him out of Michigan State
New Blackhawks top prospect Artyom Levshunov signed his three-year entry-level contract Saturday after deciding where he wanted to play in 2024-25. The contract, which will carry a $975,000 salary-cap hit, means the No. 2 overall pick in the NHL draft won’t return to Michigan State for his sophomore year of college.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times
Michigan State schedules official visits with two 5-star recruits
It’s no secret that Michigan State basketball has a lot of work to do in the recruiting world. We’ve now reached July and Tom Izzo and his staff are yet to receive a commitment in the 2025 class. I wouldn’t say it’s panic time yet, but I think we’d all love to see that class begin to take shape.Even though Michigan State has yet to earn a commitment, it hasn’t been due to a lack of effort. In fact, Izzo has just scheduled two official visits with two of the best prospects in the 2025 class.
Source: Spartan Avenue
Frankie Fidler already embracing tempo of Tom Izzo’s offense
Fidler is already looking to emulate Michigan State coach Tom Izzo’s offense, which he’s only had months to grow accustomed to .”I mean, the way Michigan State plays, the way we play, anyone who gets the rebound can push the ball,” Fidler said after his 32-point outing on Opening Night of the 2024 Moneyball Pro-Am last Tuesday. “So, I think kind of, I was getting the outlet pass out of makes, kind of just the same thing as a rebound. Was just pushing the ball, trying to play with tempo, play with pace.”
Source: Spartan Nation
Former Spartan Women’s Basketball Player Shay Colley to Represent Team Canada
Former Michigan State guard Shay Colley was named to the Canadian women’s basketball team set to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This is the second Olympic appearance for Colley who also represented Canada at the 2020 Tokyo games.
Tori Franklin Qualifies for Second Olympics
Former Michigan State athlete Tori Franklin has qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics in the triple jump. Despite earning the bronze medal in the triple jump on June 22 at the U.S. trials, she did not have the Olympic standard and had to wait to officially be named to the team by USA Track & Field. The former Spartan standout finished third in the triple jump with a 13.72m leap.
Rowing Welcomes 19 Newcomers for 2025 Season
Michigan State rowing has announced the addition 19 student-athletes to its roster for what will be the second season under head coach Stacey Rippetoe in 2025. “We’re looking forward to welcoming this class of new Spartans onto the Grand River and into our team,” Rippetoe said. “It’s exciting to think about all that they have ahead of them, both in terms of rowing and academic achievements and growing into powerful teammates of so many strong women.”
Source: Michigan State University Athletics
Softball Adds Pitt Transfer Hannah Greer
Sharonda McDonald-Kelley announced the addition of former Pitt outfielder Hannah Greer on Monday. In one season at Pitt, Greer made 27 appearances and six starts for the Panthers. Greer recorded her first career collegiate hit against Memphis on Feb. 10, 2024, and drove in her first career RBI a week later against Kennesaw State on Feb. 17.
Source: Michigan State University Athletics
Tyson Walker joins the Phoneix Suns’ Summer League team
Tyson Walker will get his shot to play at the next level this summer. According to Michigan State men’s basketball, Walker has joined the Phoenix Suns’ Summer League team. The Suns are owned by Michigan State alum and national champion, Mat Ishbia.
Source: Spartan Nation
Geary Selected By Sabres On Day Two of NHL Draft
Rising sophomore Patrick Geary (Buffalo, NY) was the second current Michigan State hockey player drafted in 2024, selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the Upper Deck NHL Draft, Rounds 2-7 concluded on Saturday in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Levshunov Goes No. 2 to Chicago in 2024 NHL Draft.
Michigan State defenseman Artyom Levshunov (Zhlobin, Belarus) was selected No. 2 overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft in Las Vegas, Nevada. Levshunov is the highest selected Spartan in the draft in 36 years – current Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour was the No. 9 pick by the St. Louis Blues in 1988. In program history, only Joe Murphy went higher, as the No. 1 pick to the Detroit Red Wings in 1986. Craig Simpson is MSU’s only other No. 2 pick, in 1985 by the Pittsburgh Penguins.