Team USA has officially narrowed its U19 Basketball roster down to 19 players. Of those 19 remaining athletes, two incoming Michigan State Spartans are still in the running.
Jasiah Jervis and Ethan Taylor remain on the roster as they continue battling for one of the final 12 spots on Team USA.
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This is a group made up of some of the best young basketball talent in the country — players who have consistently stood out on both the high school and national stages. For Michigan State to have two incoming freshmen still competing for a spot is a major shift from what Spartan fans have become accustomed to in recent years.
Michigan State has always brought in talented recruiting classes under Tom Izzo, but the Spartans have not typically landed many of the flashiest or most nationally hyped prospects. That trend, however, appears to be changing.
Izzo has quietly been building a strong foundation for the future of the program, and players like Jervis and Taylor are proof of that. They are two of four incoming freshmen looking to help restore a standard that, by Michigan State standards, has slipped a bit over the years.
The Spartans were once a program consistently associated with Final Four appearances and deep March runs. While Michigan State remains nationally respected, it has now been since the 2019 season — before the COVID era — that the Spartans last reached the Final Four.
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However, incoming talent like Jervis and Taylor, combined with an experienced and highly talented returning roster, could quickly push Michigan State back into the conversation as one of the top contenders in both the Big Ten and the nation. That becomes even more true if point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. officially announces his return for next season.
Speaking of national recognition, there are very few players considered talented enough to represent Team USA and compete against the world’s best players 19 years old and younger. Making this roster is a significant accomplishment on its own.
The final U19 roster will ultimately consist of 12 players, but for now, the remaining 19 players are:
Jasiah Jervis is already viewed as one of the better young guards in the country. His ability to move the ball, create offense, and score from nearly anywhere on the court is something Spartan fans are eager to see in East Lansing.
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Jervis plays with tremendous pace and confidence with the basketball in his hands. While there is still room for growth when it comes to attacking the rim consistently, his outside shooting range is elite and capable of changing games quickly. If he continues performing at this level, it would not be surprising to see him secure one of the final roster spots and solidify himself as one of the nation’s top young players before even stepping onto a college court.
Alongside him is 7-foot-2 Ethan Taylor, whose size immediately stands out every time he steps on the floor. Taylor’s rebounding ability and knack for put-backs could provide Team USA with a major presence on the glass while also giving the team one of the tallest players in the country.
His ability to clean up missed shots, protect the paint, and impact possessions simply with his size makes him an intriguing option for Team USA moving forward.
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If both Spartans can make the final roster, the duo would have a chance to compete for a gold medal while also building chemistry before arriving in East Lansing. More importantly for Michigan State fans, players like Jervis and Taylor could be key pieces in helping bring championship-level basketball back to the green and white.
