Can Anton Bonke Be the Missing Piece That Pushes Michigan State to the Next Level?

The Spartans got bigger down low this upcoming season, but can Michigan State’s lone transfer portal addition, Anton Bonke, be as big as Tom Izzo needs him to be?

Bonke is a 7-foot-2 skyscraper of a man who takes what seems like the minimal amount of steps to get up and down the court, yet still has the ability to soar through the air for powerful dunks while getting scrappy for the tough, much-needed rebounds.

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In a world where the transfer portal has become college football and basketball’s version of free agency, there are still a few programs trying to do things the old-fashioned way. None are more notable than Tom Izzo and the Michigan State Spartans, who continue to build their program through high school recruiting and player development—a level of loyalty that’s becoming increasingly rare.

Still, you have to play the game in today’s college athletics, and Izzo did exactly that this offseason with just one transfer. It also happened to be a very big one.

Bonke will look to step into the coveted center position, a role most recently held by Carson Cooper, who waited three long years before finally earning his opportunity. Now, Bonke will be expected to do what Cooper did—and perhaps even more—after Cooper finished second on the team in rebounds and third in scoring last season.

The Spartans have long prided themselves on their physicality in the paint and their ability to beat opponents on the glass. Their rebounding creates extra scoring opportunities while eliminating second chances for the opposition. That’s where Bonke will have to make his biggest impact.

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Yes, his offensive production will matter. If Bonke can develop the same chemistry with point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. that Cooper showed flashes of, the alley-oop connection could become must-watch basketball. But for perhaps the first time in a long time, Michigan State appears loaded with capable scorers and perimeter shooters. The bigger question isn’t whether Bonke can score—it’s…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/anton-bonke-missing-piece-pushes-174926950.html

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Publish date : 2026-07-06 17:49:00

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