Michigan State men’s basketball gains center Carson Cooper as late addition to 2022 class

The Michigan State men’s basketball program has gained a late addition to its 2022 recruiting class. Carson Cooper, a center out of IMG Academy in Florida, announced his commitment to the Spartans on Sunday.

Cooper, who is originally from Jackson, Michigan, played his senior year of high school for IMG’s varsity team. He is listed at 6-foot-11 and is a prospect who has flown under the radar for the majority of his recruitment. Cooper is currently unranked by most major recruiting services.

Cooper was offered a scholarship from Michigan State, according to 247Sports. MSU has a huge need to fill in the post at power forward and center for the 2022-2023 season. However, Cooper will not be able to fill that void, as 247Sports’ Adam Finkelstein reports that Cooper will likely redshirt for the upcoming season.

Cooper, who is considered a “late bloomer,” had scholarship offers from Eastern Michigan, Vermont, Duquesne, American University and Stetson, according to Verbal Commits. According to Finkelstein, Cooper officially visited EMU and Vermont in the fall, and Duquesne in February. He also considered doing a post-graduate year of prep ball, but has now found the right fit with Michigan State after taking an official visit to East Lansing this weekend.

Cooper, who is only 17, also played for Ypsi Prep for a brief period, and is part of the Florida Rebels team in the Nike EYBL (Elite Youth Basketball League). The EYBL is where the MSU coaching staff took notice of Cooper’s game.

Cooper joins four-star big man Jaxon Kohler and four-star point guard Tre Holloman in Michigan State’s 2022 recruiting class.

Update: Michigan State officially received Cooper’s signed National-Letter-of-Intent on Wednesday, May 11

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo on Cooper: “We’re very excited to welcome Carson and his family to our program. Carson is a young man who we think has a bright future ahead of him and that he’s really just scratching the surface of how good he can be. He’s big, skilled and strong and runs the floor really well. We see him as an anchor in the post and a player who can defend at the rim, but he’s also got the ability to stretch the floor and has a good handle. Carson is coming from a terrific program at the IMG Academy, has been a tremendous student in the classroom and we’re really looking forward to welcoming him back home.”