Men's basketball head coach Tom Izzo speaks to media during men's basketball media day on Oct. 27, 2015 at Breslin Center.
The preseason No. 13 ranked MSU basketball team officially welcomed four of the nation's top recruits on National Signing Day Wednesday.
Thus far, the 2016 class includes the following -- Nick Ward, Joshua Langford, Cassius Winston and Miles Bridges -- and the national signing day event allowed for MSU head basketball coach Tom Izzo a chance to comment on his loaded class, one which he believes might be the best ever for him.
"This is the number one class for me," Izzo said. "I'm not sure it's the number one class overall, but for me, for how we play, for what we can do ... I think it's perfect for our system."
Izzo said the class took a total team effort and credits his assistant coaches for how MSU was able to receive all the recruits.
"I think my assistants deserve a lot more credit than I do on this," Izzo said. "I thought (it was) the best job I've seen guys do collaborating and working on each other and getting the (recruits) here and getting them on the phone together."
The first to commit to the class of 2016 was Ward, a 6-foot-9 center from Gahanna, Ohio. Ward is a former high school teammate of current MSU guard/forward Javon Bess.
After that, Langford, a five-star guard from Alabama, committed to MSU in the summer of 2015. Langford has played varsity basketball for his high school since the eighth grade.
The final two commits for the 2016 class -- point guard Winston and guard/forward Bridges -- are both top ranked Michigan natives and former teammates on The Family AAU basketball program. Both Winston and Bridges committed to the MSU program early in the fall of 2015.
"It's got to rank as maybe the best class we've had," Izzo said of the class. "And we've had some good ones."
As for all these recruits coming in and competing for playing time with an already very deep and experienced team, Izzo said it's a good problem to have.
"That's the way it is at the great programs," Izzo said.
"Competition is good," Izzo went on to say. "I think it's gonna make you better ... so I don't think anyone that's here is going to take a backseat. But I don't think anyone that's coming in, is going to have to. And if I had bad kids that were just looking to come in and be here eight months, or looking to come in to get what they could for themselves, I'd be more worried about it. I'm not worried about that at all."
And in addition to this, while having talented basketball players is great, Izzo said having a group of great people is even better.
"I think having tough kids is important," Izzo said. "But having guys that get along is important. I think these guys are going to fit in great with the guys we got."
Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
