Michigan State University Athletics
Trey Fort Embraces his Path to Michigan State
3/4/2026 10:17:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Trey Fort's journey to Michigan State is a winding path.
The guard came to East Lansing after a standout year at Samford – scoring 14.6 points per game and earning Second Team All-Southern Conference honors – following stops at Mississippi State, UT-Martin in Tennessee and two junior colleges.
It was a long and winding road for the senior, who earned his bachelor's degree at Mississippi State in 2023.
He left Samford looking for a bigger opportunity and found the chance here, at Michigan State.
Fort has had some big moments for the Spartans, scoring in double figures three times, including 13 points against Kentucky in the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden and 12 in a narrow loss at Minnesota.
The season hasn't been what he would have expected, or hoped for, but the 24-year-old has a maturity and understanding for how things have happened and his role.
"I'm always ready," Fort said ahead of Senior Day on Thursday, March 5 against Rutgers at the Breslin Center. "Whatever opportunity, whenever it shows up and comes to me, I'm going to be ready, man. Like I said, staying confident, staying confident within myself, within my team, within my work ethic — that's how I got here.
"I'm going to just be ready and make sure I'm ready for that time, for that showtime. So just being able to show up, whether it's getting shots, getting a stop or whatever it is to help us win going forward, that's what I'm going to do."
Fort did just that this past weekend at Indiana. While his playing time has shifted as the Big Ten Conference season moved on, Fort played nine minutes in a 77-64 road win against the Hoosiers and was a key part of the team's second win in the Hoosier State during the week.
This is what he came to Michigan State for – the opportunity to play at the highest level and to be part of a team playing something for something bigger.
"It's been great," Fort said when asked what he would take away from this year. "Like I said, it's another level, another experience — great experience.
"Just being able to be a part of an organization like this, winning and seeing how it is, that's the main focus right now. But the entire year, with us being able to be as successful as we have been, that's one of the biggest things, man. That's something I can take with me forever."
Fort started his career at UT-Martin in Tennessee in 2020-21 but left after his freshman year following the passing of his coach. Seeking bigger opportunities, he went the junior college route, with two stops, earning National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-America Second-Team accolades and NJCAA All-Star Game MVP honors while at Howard College (2022-23) in Big Spring, Texas.
That led to Mississippi State in 2023-24, where he played against the Spartans in the NCAA Tournament, and to Samford in 2024-25, where he scored four points in 22 minutes against MSU at the Breslin Center.
"It's been a journey," Fort said. "I've been at different levels, probably every level at this point — SEC, Big Ten — just very similar high-level basketball, even the so-called high-level basketball, day in and day out. So that's really what's exciting and what I've enjoyed throughout the year."
He has learned a lot about Michigan State this year. From stepping on campus in June, to being a part of Grind Week in September and to MSU Madness and the Izzone Campout in October, he knows what an impact Michigan State basketball has on the East Lansing community. He also knows that Senior Day at the Breslin Center is a special night.
"Right now, I know my immediate family is coming, but they love to surprise me," Fort said. "As long as my immediate family is here, I know my loved ones and everybody back home and everybody around really supports me. I can feel the love whether they're here or not. So that's really what it's about. It means a lot to me."
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The guard came to East Lansing after a standout year at Samford – scoring 14.6 points per game and earning Second Team All-Southern Conference honors – following stops at Mississippi State, UT-Martin in Tennessee and two junior colleges.
It was a long and winding road for the senior, who earned his bachelor's degree at Mississippi State in 2023.
He left Samford looking for a bigger opportunity and found the chance here, at Michigan State.
Fort has had some big moments for the Spartans, scoring in double figures three times, including 13 points against Kentucky in the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden and 12 in a narrow loss at Minnesota.
The season hasn't been what he would have expected, or hoped for, but the 24-year-old has a maturity and understanding for how things have happened and his role.
"I'm always ready," Fort said ahead of Senior Day on Thursday, March 5 against Rutgers at the Breslin Center. "Whatever opportunity, whenever it shows up and comes to me, I'm going to be ready, man. Like I said, staying confident, staying confident within myself, within my team, within my work ethic — that's how I got here.
"I'm going to just be ready and make sure I'm ready for that time, for that showtime. So just being able to show up, whether it's getting shots, getting a stop or whatever it is to help us win going forward, that's what I'm going to do."
Fort did just that this past weekend at Indiana. While his playing time has shifted as the Big Ten Conference season moved on, Fort played nine minutes in a 77-64 road win against the Hoosiers and was a key part of the team's second win in the Hoosier State during the week.
This is what he came to Michigan State for – the opportunity to play at the highest level and to be part of a team playing something for something bigger.
"It's been great," Fort said when asked what he would take away from this year. "Like I said, it's another level, another experience — great experience.
"Just being able to be a part of an organization like this, winning and seeing how it is, that's the main focus right now. But the entire year, with us being able to be as successful as we have been, that's one of the biggest things, man. That's something I can take with me forever."
Fort started his career at UT-Martin in Tennessee in 2020-21 but left after his freshman year following the passing of his coach. Seeking bigger opportunities, he went the junior college route, with two stops, earning National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-America Second-Team accolades and NJCAA All-Star Game MVP honors while at Howard College (2022-23) in Big Spring, Texas.
That led to Mississippi State in 2023-24, where he played against the Spartans in the NCAA Tournament, and to Samford in 2024-25, where he scored four points in 22 minutes against MSU at the Breslin Center.
"It's been a journey," Fort said. "I've been at different levels, probably every level at this point — SEC, Big Ten — just very similar high-level basketball, even the so-called high-level basketball, day in and day out. So that's really what's exciting and what I've enjoyed throughout the year."
He has learned a lot about Michigan State this year. From stepping on campus in June, to being a part of Grind Week in September and to MSU Madness and the Izzone Campout in October, he knows what an impact Michigan State basketball has on the East Lansing community. He also knows that Senior Day at the Breslin Center is a special night.
"Right now, I know my immediate family is coming, but they love to surprise me," Fort said. "As long as my immediate family is here, I know my loved ones and everybody back home and everybody around really supports me. I can feel the love whether they're here or not. So that's really what it's about. It means a lot to me."
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