Jeremy Fears Jr. and Coen Carr Give High Praise to Jesse McCullough

Jesse McCullough has been putting in the work this offseason, and the results are already showing before Michigan State's regular season has even begun.

The Spartans played their first exhibition game last week, and McCullough earned a surprise start with Cam Ward sidelined by injury. The opportunity quickly turned into a statement performance.

McCullough led Michigan State in scoring against Incarnate Word, finishing with 20 points in front of more than 6,000 Izzone fans. His performance was an early glimpse of what he could bring to the Spartans this season.

The praise didn't stop there.

During Big Ten Media Day, head coach Tom Izzo highlighted McCullough as one of the team's under-the-radar vocal leaders. Izzo also noted that McCullough has likely spent more time in the gym than almost anyone on the roster, explaining how that work can translate into the confidence needed to lead teammates.

But was the excitement surrounding McCullough limited to his head coach?

When Michigan State stars Jeremy Fears Jr. and Coen Carr took the podium at media day, I had to find out whether the McCullough hype extended into the locker room. Judging by their reactions, it certainly does.

I asked the two Spartans what fans should expect from McCullough this season after his 20-point exhibition performance and Izzo's comments about his leadership.

Carr was the first to jump in, highlighting McCullough's versatility on the offensive end.

“Yeah, I would say a bucket, you know. Ever since he came here, we know he's gonna be a scorer. The ball at low post, mid post, he can shoot the 3. So just him being confident, you know, knowing that we want him to shoot the ball, we want him to make plays, we want him to score. He can also pass out of there too, just being kind of like a small-ball 5 and that four-man that can do a lot of things,” Carr said.

Fears echoed Carr's praise, emphasizing McCullough's basketball IQ and ability to impact the game in multiple ways.

“I think a high-IQ big. He can pass, he can shoot, he can dribble, like he can do a lot that a lot of people don't think or don't know. So when you see him, he's like, you don't know what to expect because he can always make a play. I think that's the way I look at it. He can make shots, he can make a big play,” Fears said.

Having teammates of Carr's and Fears' caliber speak so highly of McCullough is an encouraging sign for Michigan State. His combination of perimeter shooting, interior scoring and playmaking could give Izzo another valuable weapon as the Spartans look to compete in the Big Ten.

McCullough appears poised for an expanded role this season, with opportunities to play alongside Kaleb Glenn and Ward at the four. His size and versatility could also allow him to contribute at center in smaller lineups, particularly when Michigan State wants to add more shooting to the floor.

McCullough's exhibition performance offered an early glimpse of that potential. He scored 20 points and knocked down two three-pointers, showcasing the offensive versatility his teammates described.

If that production carries into the regular season, McCullough could become an increasingly important piece of Michigan State's rotation. The work is already drawing attention from Izzo, and the praise from Fears and Carr suggests his teammates see the same potential.

The hype is building in East Lansing. Now, McCullough has a chance to turn that offseason momentum into a breakout season.