In today’s new age of college basketball, sometimes the old guard continues winning. Such was the case on Friday when Tom Izzo and the Michigan State Spartans landed the commitment of five-star recruit Antonio Pemberton, one of the top-ranked point guards in the nation, as per The Field of 68.

Antonio Pemberton’s commitment gives Michigan State their first recruit from the class of 2027, and the program’s point guard of the future. With incumbent point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. likely headed to the NBA after the upcoming season, Pemberton will be handed the reigns to the team as the floor leader when he touches down on campus for the 2027-28 season.

In the meantime, the talented guard will play out his senior year in high school at Masters Academy International in Lawrence, MA. The Massachusetts native chose Michigan State over other Power 5 programs such as UCLA, Tennessee, Kansas and Ohio State, among others.

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And for the upcoming 2026-27 season, Izzo will continue his long run at the helm of the Spartans, a position he’s held since 1995. Michigan State was able to bolster their front court via the transfer portal with the addition of big man Anton Bonke.

This past season, Izzo led the Spartans to the NCAA Tournament for the 28th time in his 31 years as head coach. The only time Michigan State has missed out on March Madness under Izzo was his first two seasons on the job from 1995-1997, and then in 2020 when the entire tournament was cancelled amid the COVID-19 pandemic.