:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46745252/GettyImages-52963976.0.jpg)
Welcome to another weekly edition of Recruiting Round-Up. And what a rush of activity, 21 offers and counting. Maryland and Nebraska were the big shakers and movers this week with four offers each. Both Iowa and Minnesota offered 2016 Power Forward Reed Nikko. And we will take a peek at Michigan State, more player profiles, interviews, video action, and tons of recruiting updates.
It's currently the second Evaluation Period (July 15-19) and that means Big Ten coaches will be hitting the recruiting trail hard as 56 events are scheduled this weekend across the nation. The headliners are the Las Vegas Super Showcase, Adidas Uprising All-American Camp (Brooklyn), Nike Global Challenge (Chicago), NY2LA Summer Jam (Mequon, WI), and the Under Armour Association Finals in Suwanee, GA.
Breaking Down Michigan State
Over the next several weeks, BT Powerhouse will break down each Big Ten school in order of their rankings per 247/Sports. Last week was #2 Illinois, this week it's #3 Spartans, and #4 Indiana is on deck next Friday.
Michigan State suffered heavy graduation losses and will need to retool this season. The addition of Deyonta Davis, Matt McQuaid, and Kyle Ahrens should help fill the void. However, it's highly unlikely that Tom Izzo and company will make another deep NCAA Tournament run.
That being said, Izzo's accomplishments can't be ignored. He has led his teams to seven Final Fours in 20 seasons, including seven Sweet 16 appearances in eight years. This 2015 class and the 2016 class, if they get Miles Bridges and Cassius Winston, could return to Final Four glory soon enough.
As Denzel Valentine goes, so goes the Spartans. He will be counted upon for both scoring and leadership. Lourawls Nairn gained valuable minutes last season and should have the point guard position sewed up. Matt Costello and Gavin Schilling will have to share the load at center, even though neither are true post players.
There's plenty of competition at the guard spots between Bryn Forbes, Eron Haris, Javon Bess, and McQuaid. In essence, there will be seven to eight players battling for playing time at the wing with Valentine.
In the final analysis, it will be a challenge for Izzo to establish a consistent starting lineup that can mesh. The bright side, Michigan State is looking at a deep 9-10-player rotation. One option for the Spartans would be a smaller, more athletic lineup that can run the floor, play pressure defense, and score in transition.
Michigan State 2015-2016 Depth Chart
| POS | Seniors | Juniors | Sophomores | Freshmen |
| PG | Lourawls Nairn | |||
| SG | Bryn Forbes | Eron Harris | Javon Bess | Matt McQuaid |
| SF |
Denzel Valentine Trevor Bohnhoff Colby Wollenman |
Alvin Ellis | Marvin Clark | Kyle Ahrens |
| PF | Matt Costello | Gavin Schilling | Kenny Goins | Deyonta Davis |
| C |
Meet the New Spartans
Matt McQuaid and Kyle Ahrens should see valuable minutes as the season progresses, but Deyonta Davis could break into the starting lineup sooner than later. He's that talented.
4-Star Power Forward Deyonta Davis 6-9/230
Much has been written and said about this state champion, Mr. Basketball, and McDonald's All-American from Muskegon, (MI) High School. He is ranked #26 nationally per 247/Sports and is a versatile player who could play the 3-4-5 positions for the Spartans. Without further ado, let's "create the hype" for Deyonta Davis.
4-Star Shooting Guard Matt McQuaid 6-5/175
One of the country's best pure markemen, McQuaid's primary value for Michigan State will be perimeter scoring. The Duncanville (TX) native averaged 16 points per game for Team Texas Elite of the EYBL circuit last summer. He converted 50 percent from the field, including an amazing 45 percent on treys.
He is ranked #69 in the nation per 247/Sports and once he develops more strength, the more minutes he'll obtain. He should work out great for pick-and-pop plays. Listen to his recent interview about two months ago.
3-Star Small Forward Kyle Ahrens 6-5/180
This 3-Star is underrated, but one of the most athletic players in the 2015 class. He has the size and strength to compete in the Big Ten and displays the ability to play down low or bomb from the perimeter. During his career at Versailles (OH), he averaged 26 points per game.
He plans to major in business and told Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press after his committment, "I just loved it at Michigan State, it's family over there. I loved every second of my visit, and it was an easy choice."
Ahrens received offers from Iowa, Butler, Xavier, Dayton, and Cincinnati, among others. Check out this two-handed dunk machine.
Big Ten, Big Offers, Big Names, Big News
7/15/2015: 2018 SG Robby Carmody receives offer from Penn State
7/15/2015: 2016 PG Curtis Jones receives offer from Penn State
7/14/2015: Indiana sophomore guard James Blackmon Jr.undergoes knee surgery for torn meniscus on his left knee. He is expected to be out of commission for 6-8 weeks, but should have the green light by September. He averaged 15.7 ppg and 5.3 rpg as a freshman last season.
7/14/2015: 2017 PF Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree receives offer from Penn State
2017 PF Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree (Neumann-Goretti, Pa./Team Final) has been offered by Penn State. @d_cosby2
— Josh Verlin (@jmverlin) July 14, 2015
7/14/2015: 2018 SG Javonte Smart receives offer from Ohio State
7/14/2015: 2019 PG Tyger Campbell receives offer from Illinois
Unbelievable. The 14-year-old is already rated as a 5-Star and the top point guard in the nation per 247/Sports. He is listed at 5' 11" and 145 lbs. and started on the varsity of Christ Presbyterian Academy (Nashville, TN) as an eighth grader. He averaged 14.5 points and 6.1 assists per game.
This "Eye of the Tyger" will attend national power La Lumiere High School in La Porte, Indiana, his freshman season.
He has elite handles, a high basketball IQ, and a smooth jumper. He can take anyone off the dribble, finish at the rack, or find an open teammate. Check out his mixtape. He is a lock-down defender to boot.
7/14/2015: 2017 SG Mitchell Ballock receives offer from Nebraska and Northwestern
7/14/2015: JUCO PF Arlando Cook receives offer from Nebraska
7/14/2015: 2016 PF Brison Gresham receives offer from Nebraska
The 3-Star is from New Orleans, LA, and attends McDonogh High School. He has received 15 offers, including LSU, Texas, South Carolina, Oklahoma, and Cincinnati. He is listed at 6' 9" and 210 lbs.
7/14/2015: 2016 PG DeJon Jarreau receives offer from Nebraska
7/13/2015: 2016 SG Ibi Watson receives offer from Indiana
7/13/2015: 2016 PF Sacha Killeya-Jones receives offer from Maryland
7/13/2015: 2016 PF Eric Curry receives offer from Minnesota
Minnesota and Arkansas are the latest to offer 2016 Wings big man Eric Curry @ny2lasports
— Corey Evans (@coreyevans_10) July 13, 2015
Curry is a 3-Star from Little Rock and plays AAU ball for the Arkansas Wings. He is listed at 6' 7" and 195 lbs. He has received six offers, among them Arkansas, SMU, VCU, and Oklahoma State.
7/13/2015: 2017 SG Hamidou Diallo receives offer from Maryland
7/13/2015: 2017 SF Kevin Knox receives offer from Maryland
7/13/2015: 2017 PG Trevon Duval receives offer from Indiana
Look for Duval's recruitment to explode after John Calipari, Tom Izzo, Sean Miller, and Roy Williams watched him drop 24 points at an Under Armour Association Finals game. He is the top-rated point guard in his class per 247/Sports. He can drain the three or score inside with either hand. This kid looks NBA ready.
7/13/2015: 2016 PG Jeff Dowtin receives offer from Rutgers
7/13/2015: 2017 PG Matt Coleman receives offer from Indiana
7/13/2015: 2017 PF Billy Preston receives offer from Maryland
Per a source, Maryland has offered 2017 five-star forward Billy Preston (@nolimitbill). http://t.co/tG25XL9K5o (H/t @Jeff_Ermann)
— Josh Stirn (@Josh_Stirn) July 13, 2015
The 5-Star hails from Dallas, TX, where he plays for Prime Prep Academy. Maryland is his first Big Ten offer, but he has received plenty of attention from Kansas, UCLA, Oregon, and Utah, to name a few. He is an imposing figure at 6' 8" and 220 lbs.
7/13/2015: 2018 SG Keshaun Saunders receives offer from Illinois
7/13/2015: 2016 PF Reed Nikko receives offer from Iowa
7/13/2015: 2016 C Jayce Johnson receives offer from Iowa
And so, thus endeth another weekly Recruiting Round-Up which saw more activity than Wall Street. Next Friday BT Powerhouse will preview Indiana's 2015 class plus more "Boys of Summer" as the AAU circuit heats up.
Follow Tim Langevin on Twitter@Sports Rockers