"I'm just ready to be coached hard": Michigan State freshman Kur Teng on his relationship with coach Tom Izzo
Kur Teng is the most exciting addition to the Michigan State Spartans and has the potential to have a big impact as a freshman in the upcoming season. The Haverhill native committed to Tom Izzo early in November 2023, rejecting schools like Auburn and Providence behind his desirable playstyle of Spartans.
Kur Teng settles right into leadership on Izzo's offense, he cites a willingness and determination to be challenged and coached. He talked about his relationship with coach, Tom Izzo:
"My relationship has been great. Uh I love coach. He's been great to me. I'm just ready to be coached hard, and ready to play," Teng said in a program interview with Michael France.
Teng is a top-50 recruit in his class, a top-10 shooting guard and the best prospect out of Massachusetts. Moreover, not only does he like Michigan’s basketball but he can aid them right where they were bruised the most in the 2023-24 season.
Tom Izzo’s roster shot a collective 35.9% from the three-point line last year. Their first point of offense, Tyson Walker, shot 37.6% from from the arc and will not be present on the squad this time around.
Even though Tre Holloman shot 42.5% from the distance, he only got to attempt 80 shots. Moreover, whether he can maintain the efficiency on high-volume shooting remains to be seen.
Kur Teng is one of the best 3-point shooters in the nation and an elite one in his class, a skillset 14 other programs were after. He can step right into the void and calibrate Tom Izzo's roster more than ever.
What else will Kur Teng add to Tom Izzo's team other than long-range shooting?
Not only can Teng handle the intensity and pressure Tom Izzo is renowned for but he comes ready to handle the contact and physicality that comes with it.
His broad shoulders allow him to power through while his long arms allow him to finish with ease. He will also add to the overall versatility of the team as he can tread the open floor, be a complimenting catch and shoot player and has enough athleticism to get past defenders.
A highlight of it was seen during Kur Teng’s stint with Team Goodfellas in the Moneyball Pro-Am championship finals against the favorites, TriStar Trust. Teng churned 30 points in the title game behind a crunch-time 3-pointer to take home the championship.
Teng cruised past several former and active MSU players in Goodfellas’ run, including a 42-point game against 4 Spartans in the playoffs’ opening round. He averaged 23.6 points throughout the tourney and grabbed the MVP honors.