Michigan State making late run at big man Taurean Thompson
Team New York's Taurean Thompson, right, was the MVP of the regional game of the Jordan Brand Classic on April 15 in Brooklyn. (Photo: Gregory Payan/Associated Press)
Tom Izzo has one more scholarship available. Taurean Thompson still hasn’t picked a college.
It could be a match. Or not. Regardless, Michigan State is making a late push in pursuit of the big man who is among the best unsigned high school players in the class of 2016.
Thompson recently received a scholarship offer from the Spartans and reportedly has whittled his finalists to Michigan State, Syracuse and Seton Hall. The 6-foot-9, 220-pounder from Brewster Academy in New Hampshire has taken official visits to his other two finalists, as well as to since-pared Xavier and Connecticut. He has one official visit remaining, per NCAA rules, and it appears MSU could be his last stop.
Jason Smith, the coach at Brewster Academy, went with Thompson on his visit to Syracuse, which has long been considered the favorite to land the power forward. He said Thompson and his mother are working to arrange a trip to East Lansing, but Smith said a date has not yet been determined. The NCAA’s late signing period ends Wednesday.
“I know that his mother has been very deliberate, as well as she should be as a parent in this process,” Smith said. “I think she’s taking her time because, frankly, you don’t want to end up as one of the 700 names on the transfer list.”
MSU coaches cannot comment on recruits until they sign a National Letter of Intent.
Thompson, among the top 100 players by every major recruiting service, is ranked No. 75 by ESPN.com in the 2016 class. Michigan State already has four players signed who rank among ESPN’s top 40: swingman Miles Bridges (No. 8), shooting guard Josh Langford (No. 19), point guard Cassius Winston (No. 31) and power forward/center Nick Ward (No. 39).
“He’s able to face up and play with his back to the basket. He finishes around the rim with his left hand and right hand equally well,” Smith said of Thompson. “He has an extremely high ceiling.”
Izzo and his staff on April 15 flew to New York to watch the Jordan Brand Classic at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, where Bridges and Winston were playing in the national game. They also went to scout Thompson, who was in the regional game alongside players from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.
Thompson didn’t disappoint. The New York City native earned MVP honors of the regional event with 27 points on 13 of 15 shooting, adding 13 rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
That performance came three days after Deyonta Davis announced he would be leaving MSU to enter the NBA Draft.
“It was a little bit longer of a recruitment,” Smith said. “Coach (Dane) Fife had been in touch with me going back earlier this spring, right around when they thought that Davis might declare for the draft.”