Michigan State has landed its first recruit in the 2016 class, as four-star center Nick Ward committed to the Spartans.

Ward made the announcement Wednesday on Twitter:

Thank you to all the coaches who have recruited me, however I have decided to commit to The Michigan State University. #Spartandog — Nick ward (@best_at_hoopin) April 30, 2015

Tom Izzo's program made Ward a priority early on, offering him a scholarship last summer. Ohio State, Indiana, Cincinnati, Purdue, Iowa and others joined the hunt over the past several months, but Michigan State was a mainstay and the early work by the Spartans paid off.

Ward, a 6-foot-8 center from Lincoln High School (Ohio), is ranked No. 47 in the ESPN 60. He is the No. 7 center in the junior class.

Ward has been outstanding over the last month on the AAU circuit with All Ohio Red. He averaged 16.8 points, 11.1 rebounds and 3.0 blocks during the first two Nike EYBL events -- including a 30-point, 15-rebound, four-block performance last weekend in Lexington.

Michigan State will lose three seniors after next season, so the Spartans still have holes to fill in the 2016 class. Among the bigger targets for Izzo and his staff include five-star wing Miles Bridges (No. 7) and four-star point guard Cassius Winston (No. 31).