Michigan State Lands 2017 Five-Star Power Forward
By: Will Burchfield
@burchie_kid
Building on the momentum of perhaps its best recruiting class ever, Michigan State basketball secured its first commitment for the class 2017 in five-star power forward Jaren Jackson Jr of La Lumiere School in LaPorte, Indiana.
A top-30 recruit by consensus, Jackson made the announcement via Twitter on Thursday morning.
????????...????????S/O @TiptonEdits_ for the dope edit‼️ pic.twitter.com/ALcV2o4oUa
— JJJ (@jarenjacksonjr) September 15, 2016
The 6'5, 225-pound Jackson chose Michigan State over Notre Dame, Georgetown, Maryland and Purdue. In the end, he couldn't resist the opportunity to play for Hall-of-Fame coach Tom Izzo.
"Coach Izzo has established a culture and an attitude of winning and I want to be part of that. He does a great job at developing his talent too," Jackson told ESPN.com.
According to ESPN, Izzo secured Jackson's commitment by paying him a visit after the coach was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame over the weekend.
"It was crazy he came to visit me right after I was watching him on television from the Hall of Fame," Jackson said. "I heard he was coming but I did not know for sure he would show up. That meant a lot to me."
Jackson is Michigan State's first commitment in the class of 2017. Its 2016 class, which features four top-40 recruits, is regarded as one of the best in the country.