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Ranking Michigan State's 12 Players by Their 2027 NBA Draft Chances
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- Ranking Michigan State's 12 Players by Their 2027 NBA Draft Chances
(© Eric Seals / USA TODAY NETWORK via Ima)
There's no shortage of NBA talent on Michigan State's roster. But the NBA is the hardest league in the world to get drafted into, and it's even harder to make a name for yourself once you get there. That's why NBA owners and general managers take their two coveted draft picks very seriously when it comes time to select players.
Because of that, it's rare for teams to have multiple legitimate NBA Draft prospects on the roster at the same time. Blue-blood programs often do, but for Michigan State, that hasn't been the case in recent years. Now, though, things are changing for the better as the Spartans are loaded with star talent and players who could hear their names called on draft night.
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So, I'm going to rank all 12 players based on their chances of being selected in the 2027 NBA Draft.
Let's start with the players who most likely will not be drafted next year but will absolutely play pivotal roles in Michigan State's success during the 2026-27 season.
A few incoming freshmen join this list, starting with Carlos Medlock Jr., who will most likely back up Jeremy Fears as the second-string point guard. Smaller in stature but bigger in play, Medlock is the type of player who can score from anywhere on the floor while also distributing the ball at a high level.
Joining him is Julius Avent, a four-star power forward who arrives ready to showcase the same physicality and strength that Cam Ward displayed as a freshman.
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Alongside those two freshmen is junior shooting guard Kur Teng, who will most likely come off the bench. The Spartans will need his three-point shooting if they hope to make a deep run this season, though the NBA probably won't be calling anytime soon. Improving defensively will be a major focus for Teng this offseason.
Also in this group is Jesse McCulloch, the lone three-star recruit on Michigan State's roster. He saw some playing time as a freshman and will continue working to earn a larger role this season.
Then there's Kaleb Glenn, who missed all of last year due to injury after transferring from Florida Atlantic. I don't see much of a path for Glenn to be drafted next year, but in his first true season with the Spartans, he could become a starter and an important playmaker for Tom Izzo down the stretch.
Now we move to the players who probably won't be drafted, but there's at least a universe where everything clicks, they cash in on expanded opportunities, dominate the league for a season, and work their way into draft conversations.
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Starting this tier are two more freshmen: Jasiah Jervis and Ethan Taylor.
Both players arrive in East Lansing following stellar high school careers and have earned the opportunity to represent Team USA in the AmeriCup this summer. Jervis is a guard who can knock down shots from deep and attack the basket with confidence. He's the top recruit in Michigan State's 2026 class and has a legitimate chance to break out as a freshman before heading to the NBA as a one-and-done player.
Taylor, meanwhile, is a towering 7-foot-2 center who will most likely come off the bench behind transfer portal addition Anton Bonke. However, if Taylor receives extended playing time, he could showcase the combination of size and skill that NBA scouts love.
The final player in this tier is sophomore Cam Ward, whose intensity and passion are evident every second he's on the floor. Ward is a beast in the paint, and if the playing time is there, he could absolutely work his way into late-round draft discussions. It's a stretch, but it's not impossible.
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Now we get to the players who have a very strong chance of hearing their names called in the 2027 NBA Draft.
The first is Jordan Scott.
Scott recently appeared on draft analyst Ben Pfeifer's radar as a potential first-round prospect. His size and basketball IQ give him a tremendous advantage, and whether he's battling Jasiah Jervis for minutes at shooting guard or playing behind Coen Carr at small forward, the opportunity will be there.
Scott didn't begin last season as a starter, but he quickly earned his spot in the lineup as a freshman. Another strong season could send him to greener pastures after just two years in East Lansing.
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Next is Anton Bonke, who had his name in the NBA Draft conversation this year before ultimately withdrawing and transferring to Michigan State.
At 7-foot-2, Bonke has the size NBA teams covet. His path could look similar to Michigan's Aday Mara, who enjoyed a breakout season before emerging as a potential lottery selection. If Bonke develops the way many expect, he could easily find himself as a first-round pick next summer.
Then there's Coen Carr, arguably the most entertaining player in college basketball and one of the nation's best dunkers.
Carr's shooting struggles early last season cooled some of the draft hype surrounding him, but now he returns alongside his partner in crime, Jeremy Fears. Expect Carr to spend another season soaring through television screens and highlight reels across the country.
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His athleticism and ability to attack the rim give him a very real chance of being selected next year.
Finally, we arrive at the player with the best chance of being drafted: Jeremy Fears Jr.
The Michigan State point guard set the program's single-season assists record, surpassing legends like Magic Johnson, Mateen Cleaves, and Cassius Winston . Fears returns to East Lansing with one goal on his mind: winning a championship.
If he continues building on what he accomplished last season, he could play his way into the top 10 of the NBA Draft. Improve the three-point shot, become even more aggressive attacking the basket, and cut down on some of the unnecessary mistakes, and a top-five selection isn't out of the question.
Michigan State has one of the most talented rosters in the country. Now, the question becomes whether all of that talent can come together and deliver a special 2026-27 season.
