Michigan State Basketball: Matt McQuaid Keeps MSU's Recruiting Hot Streak Going

If even momentarily, Matt McQuaid’s commitment to Michigan State’s 2015 class should quiet those doubting coach Tom Izzo’s finesse on the recruiting trail.

While his recent hunts haven’t always been successful, Izzo has found ways to bounce back from missing out on past must-gets by adding McQuaid, a 4-star shooting guard, to a sneaky-good class of Deyonta Davis, a 5-star center, and Kyle Ahrens, an underrated 3-star winger.

According to 247Sports, McQuaid—a 6’4”, 175-pound walking three-pointer—is the No. 67-ranked prospect and No. 19-ranked SG of the next class. Not bad. That’s solid recognition. However, those rankings don’t seem to do him justice. He’s arguably the finest marksman that 2015 has to offer and perhaps one of the biggest “upside” recruits Izzo’s landed in years.

So the recent recruiting spree didn't yield the likes of Adreian Payne (2010), Branden Dawson (2011) and Gary Harris (2012), who are three of MSU's most recent high-profilers.

But a group with McQuaid, Davis and Ahrens for 2015 definitely tips the scales like a heavyweight and pushes aside the idea of Izzo completely losing touch with today's elite recruits. 

An All-Around Fit

Rob McQuaid, Matt's father and AAU/high school coach, recently spoke to Paul Konyndyk of Spartan Mag (subscription required) about his son's choice, which came down to Michigan State and Creighton. At the end of the day, Rob felt comfortable with Matt pledging to Izzo or Blue Jays coach Greg McDermott, a pair of renowned developers of character and athleticism. 

"You couldn't ask for better men to have your son play for, not just basketball, but off the floor too," said Rob McQuaid, who later revealed that East Lansing's big-time college environment was a factor in his son's decision. 

Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Gonzaga and, among others, SMU were in line to gain McQuaid, who expressed the desire to branch out from Texas and its surrounding areas. He also has family ties to Michigan. His father is from Midland, and Matt has grandparents in the state, per Konyndyk. 

So, Izzo gets a kid whose family is in part rooted in the Great Lakes. That's a win. And he gets a shooter to complement Ahrens and one to make up for the loss of Harris, who jumped to the NBA after his sophomore year. 

There's another win. 

Nice 2015 for the Spartans

With the addition of McQuaid, Michigan State now has the No. 8-ranked class of 2015, per 247Sports. 

What's not to like about a versatile and agile big man who can play like a forward and see the floor like a guard? Davis knows his way around a court. He has a perimeter shot but is incredibly effective near the basket.

And above it.

He may not be the next Payne. He may end up being better. The 6'8", 205-pounder out of Muskegon brings a skill set that few his size possess. He appears a few steps ahead of where Payne was at the same period of his career—and Payne's one of the greatest to play in East Lansing. Davis has the tools be that too. 

At nearly 6'6" and 200 pounds, Ahrens hails from an area of underrated recruits: Ohio, particularly central Ohio, is pumping out slept-on talent by the minute. Ask Michigan coach John Beilein and Wolverines star Caris LeVert. And next year, ask 2014 Spartans commit Javon Bess; he's one of them and could offer valuable insight on the topic. 

Other than the ability to shoot from miles away, Ahrens doesn't have a ton of earth-shattering attributes that put him heads and shoulders above the rest. But he has the "moldable" (not a real word) quality. Give Izzo two years with this one. He may end up as one of the coach's better inside-outside threats. The potential is certainly there. 

McQuaid is the one who'll make you think. It's clear what Davis and Ahrens can do, and what they'll probably be. But McQuaid is different. He's not just a long-range shooter. He'll be one for Izzo, but something about his footage suggests that he could be a real-deal collegiate superstar. 

Want a comparison? Think back to Nik Stauskas, who entered Michigan as a "shooter" but developed into a first-round draft pick in two years. 

Follow Bleacher Report’s Michigan State Spartans basketball writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81