Once Izzo explained what he was seeing from the familiar faces, he then started talking about the newcomers. Instead of talking about what’s changed, Izzo detailed his first impressions of the three incoming freshmen, Jaden Akins, Pierre Brooks and Max Christie.

He spoke of their talents objectively then expanded on how each of them could contribute to this season’s campaign. He said he’s been surprised by all three by different facets of their game throughout preseason practice.

“I do think we have three guys,” Izzo said. “And every one has been as good or better than the billing. And that does not happen.”

The freshman that has stood out as a regular in the starting lineup is Christie. Izzo praised the five-star McDonald’s All-American and his effort so far offensively and defensively. He said that Christie has “the whole package” and said his shooting and ability in the transition offense especially will have him on the court plenty.

Izzo and his teammates widely praised Christie’s ability to shoot. Brooks said that Christie was a top-three point shooter on the team alongside Brown and redshirt senior forward Joey Hauser. Izzo used the word deep three times to describe Christie’s range and the possible value of his shooting.

As Michigan State’s first five-star recruit since former MSU basketball player Jaren Jackson Jr., Christie has high expectations to contribute immediately. He said that he is ready for a big role with the team and is not worried about what is expected of him by anyone outside the program. 

“I don't really think of it as pressure, I more think of it as goals that I could set for myself,” Christie said. “Just in general, I know people are gonna have their own expectations of me from the outside, but on the inside, I'm just focused on myself and my team and winning as many games as possible.”

Christie said that he has been working to add weight and adjust to the speed of college play since he’s arrived. The biggest challenge had been catching up to the expected speed in MSU’s offense but has become natural for him after practice.

“The speed of the game has definitely become more accustomed to me, especially in practice as of now because I've repped it out so many times,” Christie said. “But the transition definitely wasn't easy. I had to push through some fatigue and stuff like that, but now I think it's pretty natural for me.”

Izzo said he envisions Christie to fly on the wing in transition with Brown and attack the rim like the vaunted MSU transition offenses from earlier in his tenure. He added that Christie’s ability to shoot from anywhere will make him a key contributor to the offense from day one.

“I think the chemistry is just naturally built,” Christie said. “We're both pretty great shooters, both pretty tall, pretty long people, so I think our combination on the court goes well just in general and our chemistry running the floor, running the lanes, helping each other out.”

The second freshman that Izzo talked about was Akins. The four-star point guard from Farmington has been the “surprise guy” to Izzo throughout practice so far. He said that his athleticism and intelligence have stood out and his physical traits can make him an elite defender.

“I think he could be a defensive dynamo,” Izzo said. “But his offense is a lot better than I thought, he's shooting the ball really well. He can create off the dribble, is a phenomenal athlete, but is just a great student and a great kid.”

Akins was recruited as a point guard to come in and play alongside sophomore guard A.J. Hoggard immediately before junior guard Tyson Walker transferred in and most likely took the starting spot. He now sits behind them in the point guard rotation but has impressed Izzo so far on both ends of the court. 

He said that he has spent time working as a point guard and at the two guard spot during the preseason to be prepared to help the team in any way he can.

“I really just want to bring versatility, whatever we need,” Akins said. “Whether that's defense or offense; just making plays, positive plays that impact winning.”

Like Christie, Akins said he is working to adjust to the speed and physicality of college basketball but has leaned on the veterans for advice. He said that Hoggard and Walker have been helpful in the adjustment process as a freshman point guard. 

“We got a lot of workouts in,” Akins said. “Just picking their brain and just competing with them has been fun and I feel like it got me ready and prepared for the season.”

The third and final freshman of the class is Brooks. Brooks arrived on campus later in the summer than Christie and Akins but has worked quickly to be a “pleasant surprise” for Izzo and Michigan State.

The four-star shooting guard from Detroit is deeper on the depth chart behind Christie and Brown on the wing depth chart but has a chance to play right away along with the other two freshmen. Standing at 6’5, Brooks is built like a fridge and can shoot the ball at a high level.

Izzo said that Brooks needed to lose weight after coming to campus and maintain a high level of intensity on defense. Once Brooks got here, it became clear to him that he needed to meet Izzo’s expectations.

“I've definitely lost a lot of weight,” Brooks said. “I'm moving a whole lot better, a lot quicker. I feel like I'm motivated to lose weight because I feel like I want to be out on the floor, I want to be playing.”

Despite not having a clear cut path to playing time from day one, Brooks has worked to prepare himself and is working to adjust to the speed of the game like Christie and Akins. 

“In high school, it was relaxed a little bit more,” Brooks said. “We didn’t have to run the floor a lot. I think here we have to always be on edge and always have a motor on us at all times and not take plays off.”

The adjustment to speed has been the biggest point of emphasis for all three in the preseason as Izzo looks to reestablish Michigan State’s transition offense into an explosive juggernaut. The three guards will often be the point of attack for MSU in those moments along with Walker and Brown, Izzo said. 

The three have worked to become acclimated to Michigan State and the expectations of the team, but are ready to shine now. The group has high expectations from the coaching staff and themselves and are prepared to reach those heights.

“I think we have a good freshman class,” Akins said. “I think we compete with any freshman class in the country. I think we're versatile; we have a lot of different things that we can bring to the table.”