Photo courtesy of MSU Athletics.
Four incoming Spartans — Xavier Booker, Coen Carr, Jeremy Fears Jr. and Gehrig Normand — all signed National Letters of Intent on Wednesday morning, putting a seal on one of the top recruiting classes in the country.
The outstanding recruiting class was ranked No. 3 by Rivals, 247 Sports and No. 5 by ON3 Sports.
F Xavier Booker
An Indianapolis native, Xavier Booker is turning the most heads on National Signing Day. Booker hooped at Cathedral High School, where he was guided by head coach Jason Delaney.
Booker was listed as the No.1 recruit by Rivals along with a No. 3 ranking from ESPN.
“Xavier Booker is the marquee player in this class at 6-10, with a 7-4 wingspan," Head Men's Basketball Coach Tom Izzo said in a release. “He can really shoot the ball, and he reminds us a lot of a younger Jaren Jackson Jr. He’s a player that can do a lot of versatile things.”
F Coen Carr
The forward from Hampton, Georgia played at Dutchtown High School and Legacy Early College.
Carr has received high rankings from ESPN, Rivals, ON3 sports and 247 sports. Carr was the last recruit to officially sign with MSU.
“Coen Carr has an incredible athletic ability and is improving his shooting every day,” Izzo said in a release. “He has risen in the standings because he plays hard. We’re really excited about him.”
F Jeremy Fears Jr.
Izzo said Fears’ leadership style is similar to that of Magic Johnson and Mateen Cleaves.
Fears played alongside Carr at Legacy Early College and together they plan to bring that chemistry to the team next year. Fears was the first of the four to commit to MSU.
“He just brings a unity and a confidence,” Izzo said in the statement. “He's an extroverted personality that I think’s going to fit in here very well.”
G Gehrig Normand
Guard Gehrig Normand from North Richland Hills, TX., brings a competitive personality to the group.
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Izzo said Normand is similar to Spartan men’s basketball alum and current Assistant Director of Basketball Operations Matt McQuaid in terms of what he has to offer on and off the court.
“We’re excited to get another guy from Texas,” Izzo said in a statement. “Matt McQuaid was a great find for us, and I think Gehrig Normand will be right there with him.”
Izzo said he is proud of his staff and players' efforts in getting together the 2023 recruiting class and thinks they will fit right in with the rest of the team.
“As we get ready to go on our trip to San Diego, nothing’s more exciting than to have the four players that my staff did such a good job of recruiting,” Izzo said. “My players did a good job. We got four guys that are OKG, they’re our kind of guys. They were guys that got along and they’ve united together.”
