MSU Secures Commitment from Elite Prospect Kelvin Savage Jr.—Izzo’s Personal Touch Makes All the Difference
EAST LANSING, MI — Michigan State basketball just landed one of the most dynamic recruits in the 2025 class: 6-foot-6 combo guard Kelvin Savage Jr. out of Atlanta, Georgia. But while his talent and stat lines drew offers from nearly every Power Five program, it wasn’t facilities, NIL talk, or flash that won him over—it was family.
“We’ve been to a lot of campuses, but Michigan State stood out,” said Kelvin’s father, Kelvin Savage Sr., a former professional player who spent nearly a decade overseas. “Coach Izzo treated my son like more than a player—he treated him like a person, a young man with a future beyond basketball.”
Savage Jr., known for his silky handle, lockdown perimeter defense, and explosive first step, averaged 22 points, 7 assists, and 4 steals during his junior season at Southview Academy. A consensus four-star with upside that many scouts argue borders on five-star territory, Kelvin had visits lined up with Baylor, Alabama, and Miami. But after his official to East Lansing, he canceled the rest.
“The culture felt different,” Savage Jr. said. “I’ve watched Coach Izzo on TV for years—he’s intense, he’s passionate—but when I sat in his office, he asked me about my goals outside of hoops. He talked about legacy, not just highlight reels.”
Tom Izzo, in his 30th season at the helm, has increasingly leaned into legacy recruiting—not just building rosters, but shaping futures. His pitch to Savage Jr. was less about system fit and more about personal growth, leadership, and building a championship mindset.
“He’s got that Spartan DNA,” Izzo said of Savage. “Tough, smart, coachable. And more than that, he’s a high-character kid who’s going to make this locker room stronger from day one.”
With Kelvin Savage Jr.’s commitment, MSU’s 2025 class now ranks top 10 nationally—and Izzo’s final chapters as a coach may be setting up to be among his most memorable.
