Pemberton to join Michigan State in 2027
Masters Academy International and longtime Mass Rivals point guard Antonio Pemberton has announced his commitment to Michigan State live on the CBS Sports College Basketball YouTube channel, bringing one of New England's most accomplished guards to the Big Ten next season.
A native of Methuen, Massachusetts, Pemberton is fresh off a statement summer in which he led a young Mass Rivals group all the way to the 3SSB championship game in Rock Hill.
His play during that run provided some of the best individual performances of the summer. Pemberton erupted for 29 points and the game-winner against tournament favorite Compton Magic (CA), following that up with 19 points and five assists against Midwest Basketball Club (OH), and capped it off with 31 points against ASAK (TX) to help send the Rivals into the championship game.
It was the type of stretch that showed exactly what Pemberton is capable of when the ball is in his hands.
He's an aggressive point guard who can create offense for himself, get downhill or rise up into jumpers, and take over games as a scorer when needed. But what made his summer particularly impressive was his ability to do it while leading a young team deep into one of the biggest events on the grassroots calendar.
These performances also helped Pemberton continue his climb up the national rankings while some of the country's top programs made their push in his recruitment. His final group included Boston College, Creighton, Kansas, Marquette, Michigan State, Ohio State, Tennessee, and UCLA before ultimately choosing the Spartans.
For those of us at NERR, Pemberton's rise has been especially interesting to watch because he's been around our platform for his entire basketball journey.
He first came through the Junior Elite 75 as a fifth grader and has continued to show up and stand out at NERR events during different stages of his development. Most recently, he earned Player of the Game honors at the National Prep Showcase last November.
Before heading to East Lansing, there's still one more chapter for him to write in New England.
This season, Pemberton will join former Brewster Academy head coach Jason Smith at the newly opened Masters Academy International in Stow, Massachusetts. He'll finish his high school career competing in EYBL Scholastic, giving him another year against some of the best high school competition in the country before making the jump to the college level.
After a summer that saw Pemberton elevate his national profile, lead the Rivals on a deep postseason run, and ultimately earn the opportunity to play at Michigan State, his final high school season should be an exciting one.
Stay tuned, because there will be plenty of opportunities to follow Pemberton throughout his final season in New England.
Antonio Pemberton