Stepinac's Jasiah Jervis, a highly-rated basketball player, is set to be a significant contributor as a freshman. Wayne Memorial's Carlos Medlock Jr. is also predicted to make a significant impact in the upcoming season.
Stepinac ’s Jasiah Jervis during game against Iona during CHSAA AA quarterfinal at Fordham University in the Bronx March 1, 2026. Stepinac won the game 67-51.
| Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesStepinac’s Jasiah Jervis is the Journal News/lohud Boys Basketball Private School Player of the Year March 26, 2026. | Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Imagesis probably going to be the most important freshman right away. He's the highest-ranked prospect in Michigan State's class, wrapping up at 31st overall on the 247Sports Composite.
Jervis was also the No. 6 shooting guard in the class of 2026, as well as the No. 4 overall recruit from New York. The main reason why Jervis can be a difference-maker right away is that he fills a pretty obvious need right away, though.
Everyone is on pins and needles about the decision forStepinac’s Jasiah Jervis tries to get around Iona Prep’s Elijah Joseph during basketball action in the Crusader Classic at the Westchester County Center Jan. 3, 2026. | Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesJervis is probably a better all-around scorer than all of them right away.
He's not the ball-handler Fears is, but he's good enough to create some offense of his own and also run the pick-and-roll on occasion. There's just more offensive versatility with Jervis at the two. Wayne Memorial's Carlos Medlock Jr., left, shakes hands with Jalahn McClellan after beating Flint Carman-Ainsworth in the Division 1 state semifinal on Friday, March 14, 2025, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
| Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Imageswill also play a big part in next season's story. The Detroit-area native ranked 50th overall in this year's class, ending up fourth among point guards. Medlock, standing at 5-foot-11, is the most skilled member of the current class. Simply put, this guy can score the basketball.
He averaged 16.9 points per game while shooting 44% from three across 15 games this past EYBL Scholastic season, playing for Link Academy in Missouri. In a roster packed full of elite recruits, Medlock was given a pretty tremendous amount of freedom to run Link Academy's offense. East Lansing's JL Branson, right, guards Wayne Memorial's Carlos Medlock Jr. during the first quarter in the Division 1 state final on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
| Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Having that reliable backup point guard was another big thing missing for Michigan State last season. This was especially so after Ugochukwu's injury, though he had been shifting some of his focus to being the two-guard after others struggled there. , he's a more versatile offensive player than both of them.
I'd probably take Ugochukwu's length on defense over Medlock's smaller frame, but the Spartans have been further away on the offensive end from being title contender-caliber than they have been on the defensive end. Center Ethan Taylor on an official visit to Michigan State. | Ethan Taylor / Michigan State Basketball. He's above Medlock in the rankings at No. 38 overall and fourth among centers, but Medlock is probably the more ready-made player at the college level.
Taylor's potential is undeniable, though. He's right there at seven feet tall and has a 7-foot-3 wingspan. Taylor also has a pretty built-up frame for a high school recruit; there's a lot more muscle on him than when Michigan State's Tom Izzo watches from the sideline against North Dakota State during the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the KeyBank Center on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
| Starr Portice, Michigan State Spartans on SI Taylor isn't the most polished player on the offensive end, but he's still got enough skill to convert post touches and to be a real lob threat on pick-and-rolls. I still think it'll take a year or so before Taylor can really be unleashed, but the projection is very optimistic, which is why he's ranked as high as he is. Bergen Catholic #0 Julius Avent make his entrance.
Ridgewood boys basketball hosts Bergen Catholic in a game on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. | Anne-Marie Caruso/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesJulius Avent Avent is a pretty standard height for a power forward at 6-foot-7, but his wingspan is a much longer 7-foot-3. That's the same length as Taylor's, and his standing reach has been measured at 8-foot-11. That makes Avent's projection as a defender extremely bright, since it makes it easier to contest and block shots.
Julius Avent, of Bergen Catholic, tries to moves past Jules Cleveland, of Teaneck, Sunday, February 15, 2026, in Hackensack. | Kevin R. Wexler-NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Some guys with arms that long also struggle to shoot. Avent doesn't have that problem. He made 131 threes during his three full seasons playing for Bergen Catholic.
He's not going to come in and immediately shoot 45% from deep, but there is a more developed jump shot in his arsenal than plenty of younger power forwards. Michigan State's Tom Izzo shakes the hand of an Ohio State assistant before a game at the Breslin Center on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026.
| Starr Portice, Michigan State Spartans on SIA 2025 graduate from Michigan State University, Cotsonika brings a wealth of experience covering the Spartans from Rivals and On3 to his role as Michigan State Spartans Beat Writer on SI. At Michigan State, he was also a member of the world-renowned Spartan marching band for two seasons.
Basketball Player Stepinac Jasiah Jervis Wayne Memorial Carlos Medlock Jr.
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