Heading into the offseason, the 2026-2027 Michigan State men's basketball roster is projecting to be rock solid at four of the five positions. The combination of projected returning players and incoming freshmen is expected to result in quality depth at the point guard, wing and power forward positions. Even before "One Shining Moment" aired to conclude the 2025-2026 campaign, the Spartans were already appearing in the top-five of several "way too early" top-25 projections for next season.

But if MSU plans to compete at the highest level with a chance to advance to and potentially win two games in the Final Four in Detroit in 2027, the center position likely needs bolstering. The departure of seniors Carson Cooper and Jaxon Kohler has left the Spartans with a lack of proven experience in the front-court.

On Wednesday, sources have confirmed to Spartans Illustrated that help has arrived in the form of a commitment from Anton Bonke, a rising senior transfer from the University of Charlotte. He selected Tom Izzo and the Spartans over a list of suitors that included Kansas, Cincinnati, North Carolina State, South Carolina, Clemson, Arkansas, TCU, USC and Gonzaga.

Bonke arrived for a visit to East Lansing during the night of April 16 and stayed for multiple days.

According to On3, Bonke ranks as the No. 108 player overall and No. 13 center in the transfer portal. Meanwhile, 247Sports lists him as the No. 139 transfer prospect and No. 18 center for this cycle. He is rated as a four-star transfer by both outlets.

Of note, Bonke is currently going through the NBA Draft process while maintaining his college eligibility. The deadline to withdraw while maintaining NCAA eligibility is before the day ends on May 27.

Nov 28, 2024; Davidson Wildcats forward Sean Logan (15) dribbles as Providence Friars center Anton Bonke (5) defends during the first half at the Imperial Arena at the Atlantis Resort. Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Bonke is originally from Port Vila, the capital city of the island nation of Vanuatu. The volcanic archipelago of 65 small inhabited islands is home to around 340,000 people and is located 1,000 miles off the northern coast of Australia and 600 miles west of Fiji.

After completing his high school career at Lycee Francais JMG Le Clezio, a French international school in Port Vila, Bonke moved to the United States and enrolled at Eastern Arizona College for the 2023-24 season. EAC is a junior college located in Thatcher, Arizona, which is about 160 miles southeast of Phoenix. He averaged 9.8 points and 5.8 rebounds, while playing 18.3 minutes per game for the Gila Monsters. Bonke shot 58.5% from the field and started in 16 of the team's 17 games.

He gained enough attention during his freshman season that he was able to transfer to Providence in the Big East for his sophomore year. However, the move to Division I was challenging. Bonke played in just 16 games for the Friars (one start) and averaged just 1.3 points and 1.2 rebounds in 6.5 minutes per game during the 2024-2025 campaign.

At the end of the 2024-2025 season, he once again entered the transfer portal and relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he suited up for the 49ers in the American Athletic Conference. He experienced an immediate improvement in productivity. As a junior, Bonke posted 10.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, one assist and 1.5 blocks in 25.6 minutes per game. He shot 57.6% from the field, including 13-for-38 (34.2%) shooting from 3-point range and 66% from the free-throw line during the 2025-2026 season.

Nov 9, 2024; Providence, Rhode Island, USA; Providence Friars center Anton Bonke (5) shoots against the Stonehill Skyhawks during the first half at Amica Mutual Pavilion. Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

With the arrival of Bonke, the Spartans now have three potential options at the center position. Bonke will compete for time on the floor with redshirt sophomore Jesse McCulloch and incoming freshman Ethan Taylor.

Each player brings a slightly different skill set to the table. While he saw his playing time dwindle as the season drew near an end, McCulloch showed flashes of offensive firepower is his time on the court last season, including shooting 9-for-18 from 3-point distance (50%).

McCulloch also now has the benefit of playing two full years of experience in the Michigan State system (he redshirted as a true freshman, but practiced throughout that season). Bonke brings Division I starting experience, rebounding, the ability to hit the 3-point shot and a 7-foot-2 frame. Taylor is an athletic, top-30 prospect with a reported 7-foot-3 wingspan. While the 7foot-1, 244-pound Taylor is expected to need some time to develop, he will have the opportunity to find immediate playing time, and his potential for the future is what has MSU excited.

All three players will likely need to demonstrate the ability to play pick-and-roll defense and rebound at a Big Ten level. The player who can do that will almost certainly get the most playing time in 2026-2027. The ability of a center to defend, run and rebound will go a long way toward deciding the ultimate ceiling of the Spartans next season.

With the addition of Bonke, who is expected to play many minutes, Michigan State's ceiling just got higher.

Highlights:

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