Michigan State's Izzo Regrets Not Recruiting Wisconsin's Blackwell

Spartans coach praises Badgers guard as one of the best in the country

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo expressed regret over not recruiting Wisconsin guard John Blackwell, calling him "one of the better players in our league" and saying he would "put that backcourt duo up against any in the conference, if not in the entire sport."

Why it matters

Izzo's comments highlight Blackwell's emergence as a star player in the Big Ten and a potential NBA draft prospect, while also revealing a recruiting miss by the Spartans that could have significantly impacted the conference landscape.

The details

Izzo praised Blackwell's all-around game, saying he "guards it, he's tough, he's strong, he can get to the rim, he can shoot 3s, he can pass it." The Spartans coach admitted that by the time he "really started focusing in on him, it was a little later than normal," and that he "would have been one" of his few regrets, "just because he has the whole package." Blackwell is currently projected as the No. 65 prospect in the 2026 NBA Draft.

  • Izzo's comments came on Wednesday, ahead of Michigan State's matchup with Wisconsin on Friday night.

The players

Tom Izzo

The head coach of the Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team, who was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.

John Blackwell

A junior guard for the Wisconsin Badgers, who is averaging a career-high 18.7 points, 5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game this season.

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What they’re saying

“They've got maybe the best backcourt duo in [Nick] Boyd and [John] Blackwell. Not only in the league, but one of the better ones in the country. Boyd is quick and gets a lot of things done. And Blackwell is...Unfortunately, if I wasn't playing against him, I think he's one of my favorite players. Because he guards it, he's tough, he's strong, he can get to the rim, he can shoot 3s, he can pass it. He is definitely one of the better players in our league.”

— Tom Izzo, Head Coach, Michigan State Spartans (Badgers Wire)

“I'd like to fire all my assistants who went through that with me. The problem is the head coach went down and saw him too. The worst part is, by the time I really started focusing in on him, it was a little later than normal. They gave him the most attention; he committed there really early. Everything about Blackwell I like. I like the family, where he played, I like the fact that he didn't need the dating process to be forever. He knew what he wanted. He didn't know how it would turn out at Wisconsin, and I don't think they did...I don't have many regrets, but that would have been one. Just because he has the whole package, if you ask me...I'd like to fire all my assistants, but I'd probably have to fire myself.”

— Tom Izzo, Head Coach, Michigan State Spartans (Badgers Wire)

What’s next

The matchup between Michigan State and Wisconsin on Friday night will be a key test for Blackwell and the Badgers, as they look to prove they have one of the best backcourt duos in the country against the highly-ranked Spartans.

The takeaway

Izzo's regret over not recruiting Blackwell earlier highlights the guard's rapid rise to stardom in the Big Ten and as an NBA prospect, underscoring the missed opportunity for Michigan State to land a player with "the whole package" according to the Hall of Fame coach.