Carlos Medlock Jr.

After a standout junior season at Wayne Memorial and a move to Link Academy, Carlos Medlock Jr. joins the Michigan State Spartans as a promising young guard with scoring ability, perimeter shooting, and playmaking potential.

For Carlos Medlock Jr., basketball represents both a family tradition and an opportunity to establish his own identity. A native of Michigan, Medlock built his reputation at Wayne Memorial High School before transferring to Link Academy in Missouri for his senior season. His performances earned national recruiting attention and eventually led him to Michigan State University.

Medlock committed to the Spartans on July 25, 2025, before completing his final year of high school basketball. He subsequently signed with Michigan State as part of its 2026 recruiting class and is listed on the program's 2026-27 roster.

Now, wearing jersey No. 7, the freshman guard begins the next stage of his development under head coach Tom Izzo. His high school accomplishments provide a promising foundation, but his collegiate career will be defined by how he adapts to the speed, physicality, and demands of Big Ten basketball.

• Full Name: Carlos Medlock Jr.
• Sport: Basketball
• Position: Guard, Point Guard
• Height: 5 feet 11 inches
• Weight: 178 pounds
• Date of Birth: October 9, 2007
• Age: 19 as of October 14, 2026
• Birthplace: Ypsilanti, Michigan
• Hometown: Westland, Michigan
• College: Michigan State University
• Team: Michigan State Spartans
• Jersey Number: 7
• Class: Freshman
• Previous School: Link Academy, Missouri
• Recruiting Class: 2026

Basketball has deep roots in the Medlock family. His father, Carlos Medlock Sr., was a standout point guard at Eastern Michigan University, where he scored more than 1,000 career points and earned All-Mid-American Conference recognition.

After college, Medlock Sr. continued playing professionally for 12 years, primarily in Germany. His experience provides important context for his son's basketball background, although Carlos Jr. has established his own reputation through his performances at the high school and prep levels.

Carlos Jr. grew up in Michigan with his parents, Carlos Sr. and Mika Medlock, and his two younger siblings, Morgan and Mackenzie. His family's connection to basketball offered a close personal link to the sport as he developed his own skills and pursued opportunities to compete at higher levels.

His favorite athlete is Kyrie Irving, a guard recognized for his ball-handling creativity and offensive versatility. Medlock also lists the Detroit Lions as his favorite team and plans to major in business at Michigan State.

These details offer a glimpse of his interests beyond basketball while illustrating the combination of family influence, education, and athletic ambition that accompanies his college journey.

Medlock developed into a productive guard at Wayne Memorial High School in Wayne, Michigan. A three-year varsity player, he earned All-Kensington Lakes Activities Association honors as a freshman and sophomore before delivering a standout junior season in 2024-25.

Michigan State's official player biography lists his junior-season averages as 24.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. The university's earlier recruiting announcement reported 24.9 points and 4.8 assists, reflecting a small difference between published statistical summaries.

Regardless of that discrepancy, the figures establish the scale of his offensive contribution. Medlock combined substantial scoring production with rebounding and playmaking while helping Wayne Memorial achieve one of the most successful seasons in its program's history.

Wayne Memorial finished 25-4, captured its league championship with a 14-0 record, and advanced to the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 1 state championship game.

Medlock delivered several notable performances during the postseason. He scored 30 points against the University of Detroit Jesuit in the regional round, added 21 points against Detroit King in the Division 1 quarterfinals, and scored 29 points in the semifinal victory over Flint Carman-Ainsworth.

The team's run to the state final represented a major milestone for Wayne Memorial. For Medlock, the season demonstrated his ability to shoulder a significant offensive responsibility while competing in high-pressure games.

He also surpassed 1,000 career points during his high school career and earned Associated Press Division 1 First Team All-State recognition.

Following his junior season, Medlock transferred to Link Academy in Branson, Missouri, for his senior year. The move took place before the 2025-26 season and gave him an opportunity to compete in a nationally recognized prep basketball environment.

At Link Academy, he joined a program featuring highly regarded prospects and competed in the Nike EYBL Scholastic league. He was also a teammate of fellow Michigan State recruit Ethan Taylor.

The transition represented an important stage in Medlock's development. After establishing himself in Michigan, he entered a different competitive setting where he could continue refining his skills and preparing for college basketball.

He also competed with Phenom United on the Adidas 3SSB 17U circuit. Michigan State's official biography credits him with averaging nearly 21 points and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 39 percent from three-point range.

That production reinforced the importance of his scoring ability and perimeter shooting. His experience against competitive opposition also offered opportunities to improve his decision-making and learn to contribute within different team environments.

Medlock's senior season at Link Academy was a separate stage of his high school journey, following his junior-year breakthrough at Wayne Memorial. It was during this period that he continued preparing for his eventual arrival in East Lansing.

Medlock attracted interest from multiple college programs after his performances at Wayne Memorial. His recruitment included Michigan State, the University of Michigan, Creighton, Iowa, and other Division I programs.

He chose Michigan State on July 25, 2025, becoming the first player to commit to the Spartans' 2026 recruiting class. The commitment came before his senior season at Link Academy, with his college enrollment planned for the 2026-27 academic year.

Michigan State subsequently announced his signing in November 2025. The program identified him as a four-star recruit and highlighted his scoring production, quickness, and potential as a perimeter defender.

Head coach Tom Izzo praised Medlock's speed, shooting ability, and competitive qualities. Izzo also compared his quickness and style to former Michigan State point guard Kalin Lucas.

The comparison reflects the characteristics the coaching staff sees in Medlock rather than a prediction that their careers will follow the same path.

For Medlock, choosing Michigan State meant remaining connected to his home state while joining a program with a long history of competing at the highest level of college basketball.

Medlock's playing style centers on scoring, ball-handling, perimeter shooting, and playmaking. Michigan State describes him as a high-scoring, high-energy point guard with dynamic playmaking ability, a quick burst off the dribble, and strong on-ball perimeter defense.

His scoring production at Wayne Memorial demonstrated his ability to take on a leading offensive role. His three-point shooting on the Adidas circuit also showed that perimeter scoring is an important part of his game.

As a point guard, he must balance his scoring instincts with the responsibility of organizing an offense and creating opportunities for teammates. His recorded assist totals suggest that he can contribute as a facilitator as well as a scorer.

His height of 5 feet 11 inches makes positioning, anticipation, and defensive technique important areas as he adjusts to the physical demands of college basketball. Competing against stronger and more experienced guards will require continued development in those areas.

His established strengths provide a foundation for growth, but his collegiate performances will determine how effectively he translates those abilities to the Big Ten.

Medlock plans to major in business at Michigan State, according to his official player biography. His academic plans form another part of his transition into university life as he balances studies with the demands of college athletics.

His family remains an important part of his background, particularly through his father's experience as a collegiate and professional basketball player. That connection provides context for Medlock's development without diminishing the individual work required to reach the collegiate level.

Publicly available information does not establish a detailed history of major injuries, charitable initiatives, or significant personal adversity. Those aspects should not be included as established parts of his story without further reliable information.

Medlock is listed on Michigan State's official 2026-27 roster as a freshman guard wearing No. 7. The university lists him at 5 feet 11 inches and 178 pounds, with Westland, Michigan, as his hometown and Link Academy as his previous school.

His freshman season presents a new challenge. He must adjust to the speed and physicality of college basketball, learn the Spartans' offensive and defensive systems, and compete for opportunities in a talented backcourt.

As of October 14, 2026, Michigan State's official statistical profile does not list collegiate game statistics for Medlock. His playing time, scoring averages, and role in the rotation therefore remain to be established.

His immediate priorities will include making sound decisions under pressure, maintaining shooting efficiency, defending consistently, and earning the coaching staff's confidence.

His high school achievements and prep experience offer a useful starting point, but his progress at Michigan State will be measured through his performance against collegiate competition.

Medlock brings Michigan State a young guard with a productive scoring background, experience against nationally recognized opponents, and strong ties to Michigan basketball.

His progression from Wayne Memorial to Link Academy reflects his movement through increasingly competitive environments. His commitment to Michigan State provides another opportunity to refine his skills and contribute to a major college program.

His long-term impact remains to be determined. Recruiting recognition and high school statistics establish context, but his eventual contribution will depend on his development, consistency, decision-making, and ability to help his teammates.

Carlos Medlock Jr. enters Michigan State with a foundation built on scoring production, perimeter shooting, playmaking, and competitive experience. His achievements at Wayne Memorial helped establish his reputation, while his senior season at Link Academy provided another step toward college basketball.

His commitment in July 2025 and subsequent signing marked the beginning of his transition to East Lansing, culminating in his place on the Spartans' 2026-27 roster.

Now, the challenge is to turn potential into collegiate performance. As he adapts to a higher level of competition, Medlock has the opportunity to build a basketball identity of his own through continued development, consistent work, and contributions to Michigan State.