For nearly two years, Carlos Medlock Jr. flew under the radar. Quietly putting up big numbers in small gyms. No flashy mixtapes. No blue-check hype. Just buckets.
He was the kind of kid college programs overlook—until they can’t.
And now?
Tom Izzo’s Michigan State Spartans have seen enough.
The offer is in. The phone call was made. East Lansing is officially in pursuit of one of the grittiest, most underrated point guards in the 2026 class.
> “He doesn’t care about rankings,” said one local scout. “He just wants to win.”
This is the inside story of how a tough, unpolished point guard from Michigan turned heads, earned an MSU offer, and might just become the next great Spartan floor general.
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PART I: THE KID FROM THE SHADOWS
Carlos Medlock Jr. isn’t a name that popped up on the national radar.
Not yet.
He’s not an Instagram phenom. He doesn’t chase clout. And he’s not playing in every flashy AAU circuit around the country.
But in Ypsilanti, in packed local gyms and at old-school tournaments, word started to spread: this kid’s different.
> “He plays like he’s got something to prove every possession,” said a rival coach.
Medlock is built like an old-school point guard:
Strong.
Fearless.
Vocal.
High basketball IQ.
He’s not trying to cross you over just for a highlight. He’s trying to rip your heart out with a fourth-quarter dagger.
His vision is elite. His defense is suffocating. And most importantly?
He’s a leader.
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PART II: BLOODLINES AND FIRE
The name Medlock might ring a bell to basketball fans in Michigan.
His father, Carlos Medlock Sr., starred at Eastern Michigan and later played overseas. Tough guard. Crafty scorer. Total competitor.
That’s the DNA.
But Medlock Jr. isn’t trying to follow in footsteps.
He’s trying to make his own.
From an early age, coaches noticed his maturity. While other players were worried about shoe deals and follower counts, Medlock was studying film and asking for extra reps.
> “Carlos is an old soul,” said his high school coach. “He wants to be coached hard.”
By sophomore year, he was already the vocal leader of his varsity team—not just on the court, but in the weight room and classroom too.
That’s when whispers started swirling:
> “This kid could be Big Ten good.”
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PART III: THE CALL THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
Michigan State doesn’t just hand out offers like candy. Especially not under Tom Izzo.
Izzo demands more than talent. He wants toughness. IQ. Grit. Loyalty.
And Carlos Medlock Jr. checks every box.
After watching him dominate at multiple spring events—putting up 20+ points with lockdown defense and vocal leadership—MSU’s staff made their move.
June 2025: the offer came in.
And just like that, a firestorm erupted in the recruiting world.
> “It was just a matter of time,” said 247Sports Midwest analyst Allen Trieu. “MSU knows point guard talent when they see it.”
The message was clear:
Michigan State believes in Medlock before the rest of the country catches up.
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PART IV: WHY IZZO MOVED EARLY
For Tom Izzo, recruiting is about more than highlights.
It’s about projection.
Can this kid lead a Final Four team? Will he buy into Spartan culture? Can he handle the pressure of Breslin in March?
With Medlock, the answers are all yes.
Sources close to the program say Izzo fell in love with his tenacity, passing ability, and defensive mindset.
“He reminds you of Mateen Cleaves in how he commands the floor,” said one former Spartan assistant.
Medlock doesn’t just play point guard. He owns the position.
His timing. His voice. His willingness to dive for loose balls.
That’s what wins in March.
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PART V: SPARTAN GUARD LEGACY
Michigan State has a long, rich lineage of floor generals.
Mateen Cleaves — national champ, locker room alpha.
Denzel Valentine — versatile, brilliant leader.
Cassius Winston — one of the smoothest playmakers in college basketball.
Now, the Spartans believe Medlock could be next.
He’s not as flashy as some five-stars. But neither was Cleaves. Neither was Travis Trice.
Medlock’s greatness is in his grind.
And that’s exactly what East Lansing is built on.
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PART VI: THE STATE OF RECRUITMENT
The MSU offer was Medlock’s first from a high-major program—and it won’t be the last.
Since the news broke, several Big Ten and ACC programs have sent assistants to watch him live. Indiana, Illinois, Marquette, and even Michigan have expressed interest.
But here’s the twist:
> “He grew up watching Michigan State,” said a close family friend. “Izzo’s always been his guy.”
That matters.
In an era of one-and-done dreamers, Medlock is cut from a different cloth.
He wants development. He wants accountability.
And Michigan State offers both.
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PART VII: WHAT’S NEXT?
Medlock’s junior year could be explosive.
He’s added muscle. He’s expanded his range. And his confidence is surging.
If his progression continues, he’ll be a top-100 national recruit by December. But for now, that doesn’t matter to him.
He’s not chasing stars. He’s chasing excellence.
He’s already scheduled an unofficial visit to MSU for this summer. Sources say Izzo wants him at camp. Wants him in the gym. Wants him to feel what it means to be a Spartan.
Because this isn’t about a short-term win.
It’s about building a backcourt legacy that lasts.
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PART VIII: WHY THIS STORY MATTERS
In a basketball world obsessed with hype, the Carlos Medlock Jr. story is a reminder that substance still wins.
He’s not the loudest. Not the flashiest. Not the most followed.
But he might just be the most Spartan.
> “He plays like a kid who knows everything can be taken from him,” said one local coach. “That’s rare.”
And in East Lansing, that’s sacred.
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CONCLUSION: THE FUTURE FLOOR GENERAL?
Tom Izzo has built a Hall of Fame career on identifying toughness before talent.
He sees it. He believes in it. He develops it.
And now he sees it in Carlos Medlock Jr.
The question isn’t whether Medlock is good enough for Michigan State.
The real question is:
Will the rest of the country catch up before he’s already in green and white?
Because one thing’s for sure—he just might be Izzo’s next great guard.
And when that happens, remember where you heard it first.
