Michigan State University men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo didn’t mince words at his Wednesday press conference: “We’ve created a bad system.”
Izzo made it clear he despises the current structure of the transfer portal — how it operates, the culture it fosters and the toll it takes on his players.
Since MSU’s Elite Eight loss, seven Spartans have either left the team or are expected to. Seniors Jaden Akins, Frankie Fidler and Szymon Zapala exhausted their eligibility, while Xavier Booker transferred to UCLA and Tre Holloman committed to NC State. Gehrig Normand entered the portal without a destination yet, and Jase Richardson declared for the NBA Draft, where he’s projected as a top-15 pick.
The transfer portal officially opened during the NCAA Tournament, but Izzo said that agents and schools are contacting players year-round — offering money, playing time, and promises. It’s a system he loathes, one he believes is full of “BS” and severely lacking transparency.
“I know, positively, that people are talking to people all year long. If that happens on my staff, people will be gone,” Izzo said. “The biggest concern is that these guys have had people in their ears all year long. The portal is open 24/7, 365 days a year. Let’s make the portal a real opening. Let’s make it a big deal. And we know that’s the day you can start talking to kids.”
Izzo supports players making money through NIL — his own athletes benefit, just like those at other top programs. But he wants clearer rules, stronger guardrails and more protection for student-athletes navigating both the transfer portal and the online scrutiny that impacts mental health.
The pressure athletes receive daily is “off the charts,” Izzo said. The meddling in their lives, as seen on social media, has made their lives more difficult and confusing. It was seen after the four players entered the portal, or the NBA Draft, and is seen throughout the season, win or loss. It’s seen through agents and coaches trying to lure in other players throughout the season, outside of the dedicated transfer portal time frame.
“The system was set up without any proper guidelines. It has not helped any players make decisions,” Izzo said. “I don’t think they’re happy if there are people in their ears (saying) that things could be better somewhere else. These kids are getting recruited (all) year long. They’re getting lied to by some, and getting told the truth by others.”
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