ESPN : Guinness World Record Holder Rejects Multi-Million Dollar SEC Deals to Commit to Michigan State!
Historic Move Shakes Up College Hoops as Tallest Player in the World Turns Down Florida, Kentucky, and Texas for a Spartan Dream!
EAST LANSING, MI — July 4, 2025
In one of the most seismic recruiting shocks in college basketball history, 7-foot-10 phenom Elijah “Tower” Mensah, the Guinness World Record holder as the tallest active basketball player in the world, has committed to Michigan State University, stunning blue-blood programs across the SEC and igniting a frenzy in the college basketball world.
At just 18, Mensah, who hails from Accra, Ghana, has become an international sensation for both his unparalleled height and surprisingly fluid game. Scouts from across the globe have followed his journey since he first appeared in FIBA U16 highlights, where he swatted 14 shots in a single half without leaving the paint. Despite his towering frame, Elijah moves with the grace of a power forward, boasting a feathery touch from 10 feet and a wingspan that measures an NBA-record-breaking 9 feet 2 inches.
Over the past 12 months, Elijah received offers from the likes of Kentucky, Florida, Texas, and even G League Ignite, with reported NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals estimated at $3.2 million annually. Industry insiders assumed his decision would come down to financial upside. Instead, he made a jaw-dropping announcement during a televised press conference held at his high school gym in Ghana.
> “I didn’t come to play basketball only. I came to learn, to grow, and to build a legacy,” Mensah said, his deep baritone resonating across the crowded room. “Michigan State felt like home. Coach Izzo believed in me before the world knew my name.”
Head Coach Tom Izzo, entering what could be his final chapter at Michigan State, flew to Ghana last winter — the only coach from a Power Five program to make the 17-hour trip — and spent three days with Elijah’s family. That personal touch, combined with MSU’s rich tradition of player development and a tight-knit locker room culture, proved decisive.
> “This young man isn’t just a unicorn. He’s a movement,” Izzo said in a press statement. “He could’ve gone anywhere. He chose Spartan green. That tells you everything.”
Elijah’s commitment instantly shot Michigan State’s 2025 recruiting class to No. 1 nationally, and Vegas sportsbooks updated their early 2025–26 title odds, moving MSU from +2200 to +550, second only to Duke. Social media exploded, with current NBA stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Victor Wembanyama welcoming Mensah to the global big-man brotherhood.
Elijah is expected to arrive on campus this August, where his mere presence will force the Breslin Center to retrofit its locker room, showers, and even doorframes. Beyond his on-court impact, the university has launched a special Global Student-Athlete Initiative, citing Mensah’s story as the cornerstone of their expanding international recruitment efforts.
There’s already talk of a Spartan Tower Tour in Asia and Africa, with early projections suggesting Mensah’s jersey will be the top-selling NCAA product of the year.
And yet, despite the buzz, the money, and the media circus, Elijah remains grounded.
> “Basketball will give me a platform. Michigan State will give me a purpose,” he said simply, walking away with a smile that had already made history.
ESPN will follow Elijah Mensah’s journey from Accra to East Lansing all season long. Stay tuned for our exclusive documentary: “The Tower: Building a Legacy.”
