Michigan State's Trey Fort Overcomes Struggles to Reach Sweet 16

Tom Izzo praises Fort's perseverance after 'miserable year' for the Spartans guard

Mar. 22, 2026 at 12:20am

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Michigan State basketball reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament with a 77-69 win over Louisville. Spartans head coach Tom Izzo became emotional in praising guard Trey Fort, who has had a difficult journey to reach this point, for sticking with the team despite his own struggles this season.

Why it matters

Fort's story highlights the perseverance and determination required to overcome adversity and reach the heights of college basketball. His ability to push through a 'miserable year' and contribute to Michigan State's tournament run is an inspiring example of the resilience of student-athletes.

The details

Trey Fort, a 6-foot-4 guard, has had a winding college basketball journey before landing at Michigan State. He started at Tennessee-Martin, then played at two different junior colleges, before stints at Mississippi State and Samford. Despite struggling to find his scoring touch for much of the season, Fort came up big in the Spartans' Sweet 16 win, scoring 12 points in 19 minutes of action.

  • Trey Fort started his college basketball career at Tennessee-Martin in the 2020-21 season.
  • Fort played at Copiah-Lincoln College and Howard College in the following two seasons.
  • He then spent time at Mississippi State and Samford before joining Michigan State this season.
  • On March 21, 2026, Michigan State defeated Louisville 77-69 to advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

The players

Tom Izzo

The head coach of the Michigan State Spartans basketball team, known for his emotional and passionate leadership.

Trey Fort

A 6-foot-4 guard for the Michigan State Spartans, who has had a long and winding college basketball journey before finding success with the team this season.

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What they’re saying

“This is tear-jerking for me. Trey's had a miserable year from what he was expected and what we were expecting. And instead of quitting, he's stuck with it.”

— Tom Izzo, Head Coach, Michigan State Spartans

What’s next

Michigan State will face the winner of the game between Gonzaga and UCLA in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

Trey Fort's perseverance and determination to overcome a difficult season and contribute to Michigan State's tournament run is an inspiring example of the resilience and character required to succeed at the highest levels of college basketball.