Michigan State basketball recruiting: 4-star big man Jesse McCulloch picks Spartans
Tom Izzo landed another top-200 prospect for Michigan State basketball’s next recruiting class.
The Spartans secured a commitment from four-star 2024 prospect Jesse McCulloch on Thursday afternoon. The 6-foot-9, 215-pound forward/center from Cleveland chose MSU over Alabama, Virginia Tech and Xavier.
"It feels like a real family over there," McCulloch said during his announcement on 247Sports.com's YouTube page. "I know every single coach, I know the players, I know the incoming freshmen. So it really just feels like home."
McCulloch is rated the 85th prospect by 247Sports and No. 173 in its composite rankings. He's considered a top-five player in Ohio in his class, and also rated a four-star prospect by ESPN.com and On3.com.
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He averaged 17.3 points, 11 rebounds and three assists a game as a junior at Lutheran East High in Cleveland Heights this winter. He earned second-team All-Ohio in Division III-IV, helping to lead the Falcons to their second D-III state title in the past three years.
"(MSU) should expect a guy who's gonna come into campus and just play hard," he said. "Someone who can stretch the floor out, play hard with his teammates, match their energy, bring energy, bring leadership as a freshman."
McCulloch is the second player in MSU’s 2024 class, joining four-star prospect Kur Teng. Teng, 6-4 and 185 pounds from Manchester, New Hampshire, is rated the No. 36 overall player and No. 8 shooting guard according to the 247Sports composite.
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MSU has the No. 3 recruiting class for 2023 with two five-star players in center Xavier Booker and point guard Jeremy Fears Jr., and two four-star players in forward Coen Carr and swingman Gehrig Normand. Booker, a 6-10, 210-pound big man, is ranked No. 8 in the 2023 class according to 247Sports.com. Fears, a 6-2, 180-pound point guard, is rated No. 24. Carr, a 6-7, 200-pound forward, is No. 53 overall. And the 6-6, 180-pound Normand is No. 104.
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State basketball recruiting: Jesse McCulloch joins 2024 class
