BEHIND THE SCENES: Here's how Tom Izzo is still landing the high school players he wants at Michigan State
Antonio Pemberton and Jaydn Jenkins’ commitments reveal how Izzo and his staff keep winning recruiting battles their way
At 71, Tom Izzo is still going into recruits’ homes at midnight. Still earning the trust of families encountering his program for the first time. Still doing the work to bring players to Michigan State his way.
This month, that work delivered Antonio Pemberton and Jaydn Jenkins – the two additions the Spartans wanted for their 2027 recruiting class. Pemberton committed Sept. 18, and Jenkins followed Sept. 30.
Spartans Illustrated spoke with sources in and around the program to get at the question behind these commitments: How is Tom Izzo, now in his eighth decade, still outworking the competition, still convincing talented teenagers to embrace his demands, and still keeping players invested in the program he built? As college basketball changes around him, how does he keep winning these battles his way?
The answer begins with a suggestion from his staff: Visit Antonio Pemberton’s home the minute the recruiting period opened.
That meant showing up on the East Coast just after midnight.
At 71, with a Hall of Fame resume and decades of success behind him, would Izzo make that trip?
Subscribe to go behind the scenes of Michigan State’s latest recruiting wins, including:
The staff’s plan for landing Antonio Pemberton and Jaydn Jenkins
A current Spartan’s role in helping secure Pemberton’s commitment
The decision that settled MSU’s frontcourt recruitment
Why the Spartans are selective with offers – and how money, relationships, and Michigan’s talent pool shape their targets
How Izzo and his staff connect recruiting with player retention and opportunities on the roster
