With the 2026 NBA Draft approaching in a little over a month and decision time coming for several prospects, there’s still a lot of roster movement going on around college basketball.
A top non-conference opponent for Michigan State just lost a key prospect unexpectedly.
We’re going to hear several more decisions in the near future, including one from Jeremy Fears Jr., before the draft deadline passes that will affect Michigan State.
On Wednesday, the Spartans found out that Gonzaga is losing a key newcomer to the NBA draft after he received some first-round feedback after a huge season in Germany.
NEWS: Gonzaga-commit Jack Kayil is staying in the 2026 NBA Draft, agents Kevin Bradbury and Milan Nikolic tell DraftExpress.
The 6'5, 20-year-old point guard is receiving first-round feedback off an outstanding season in Germany with Alba Berlin.
Tough break for Mark Few. pic.twitter.com/AdefhKEIk7
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 13, 2026
Jack Kayil is a four-star combo guard prospect from Germany who’s ranked the No. 159 prospect in the 2026 class and he’s been signed by Gonzaga since November. He was one of three commits in Gonzaga’s 2026 class along with four-stars Sam Funches and Luca Foster. That trio was expected to contribute early in 2026-27.
Now Gonzaga will have to look elsewhere for some backcourt help. Mark Few and the Bulldogs did land Houston shooting guard transfer Isiah Harwell, but losing an international star like Kayil hurts.
Michigan State caught a bit of a break here, but that’s deserved with the schedule that Tom Izzo and the Spartans have pieced together. Several 2026-27 non-conference opponents have added elite talent this offseason so one break is more than warranted.
Michigan State’s non-conference schedule provides no breaks
This is the only “break” that Michigan State has gotten from its upcoming non-conference and it’s not really anything worth celebrating because Kayil hasn’t played a single minute for the Bulldogs so there’s no telling really how good he’d be.
However, he is getting first-round draft grades so he has to be pretty good.
Gonzaga is still likely a top-15 team next season and the roster is going to be really solid with or without Kayil. Not only will the Spartans see a top-15 Gonzaga team, but they’ll also face Arkansas, Tennessee, and Duke which could all be top-10 teams. There’s also been a rumor about a potential Arizona matchup — not sure how serious that is, though.
Michigan State is going to see an actual murderer’s row during non-conference play so every little break helps.
The Spartans are going to be more than prepared for March Madness next year.
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