Jaden Akins confident he can balance personal and team goals at Michigan State next season
Holt, Mich. – Michigan State guard Jaden Akins learned a lot about the NBA draft process this off-season by declaring as a sophomore before ultimately making the decision to return to the Spartan program for his junior season.
“I feel like it was good, engaging and getting feedback,” said Akins on Thursday night at the Moneyball Pro-am after he and Spartan teammate Mady Sissoko led Team Snipes to a win over Tre Holloman and Team Snipback, which was playing without Jaxon Kohler. “Just hearing what I need to do this year. Nothing was really surprising. I just need to take the next step with my game.”
Akins averaged 9.9 points and 4.0 rebounds while playing 27 minutes per game as a sophomore last season. He was a solid defensive player for the Spartans and one of Michigan State’s better perimeter shooters, averaging better than 40 percent from behind the 3-point line. Akins logged 23 starts in 27 game appearances for Michigan State. The only negative for Akins as a second-year player was a foot injury that sidelined him for several weeks during the summer. A reaggravation of that same injury during Michigan’s State’s non-conference season was another setback for Akins.
As a junior, Akins expects to play an important role in a Spartan backcourt that returns every major contributor from a team that made a Sweet 16 run in the NCAA Tournament. To that nucleus of veteran returning guards, the Spartans have added a trio of freshmen guards and wings from a Top 5 four-man recruiting class.
“It’s a lot of talent,” Akins said. “We’ve got experience and we’ve got new guys. It’s probably the deepest backcourt in the country. Really from top to bottom, the overall team. We’ve got a lot of talent. We’ve just got to put it together.”
Akins expects to contribute in more ways as a junior than he did last season, and he does not believe that his individual goals are at odds with the lofty team goals that Michigan State will likely set for itself given the talent the Spartans have returning and coming into the program.
Akins is also confident that his personal aspirations align with the vision Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo has for Michigan State this season.
“Me and Coach have had a lot of talks about the things that I feel I need to do myself,” Akins said, “combined with things that I need to do for the team, getting a happy medium so we can meet both of our goals.”
One of those personal goals is earning a spot the Big Ten all-defensive team. A year ago, Michigan State had one of the best defensive backcourts in the country. None of the guards that comprised the Spartan backcourt, however, received individual recognition for their defense. Akins wants to change that.
“We should be a good defensive team,” Akins said. “One of my individual goals is trying to make the all-defensive team this year. I just want to hang my hat on that.”
Akins has been a steady contributor for Team Snipes playing alongside Mady Sissoko through two sessions at the Moneyball Pro-Am. Going into his junior season, however, Akins isn’t looking to score a certain number of points per game or to wow fans with high-flying dunks.
“Really just show out for the fans and have fun, and kind of work on my game a little bit,” Akins said. “Don’t overdo it, just try and get better a little bit. I feel like playing the right way (is important). Sometimes you try and give the fans a show, and it pulls you out of stuff. You’ve got to play basketball the right way, move the ball around, and have fun with your team.”
Akins does not, however, begrudge members of Michigan State’s freshmen class for attacking the rim and trying to make a strong impression with the hundreds of Spartan fans that flock to the Moneyball Pro-am to check out the new guys.
“They’ve got young legs, so I feel like they should be dunking and jumping,” Akins said. “They should be giving people something to watch.”
Akins may be saving his legs for the season, but he still brings plenty of athleticism to bear at shooting guard for the Spartans. Given the depth of Michigan State’s backcourt and the passing ability of its guards, don’t be surprised if the transition offense looks more like a vintage Spartan fastbreak than it has the past few seasons.
“We are athletic at every position, so we should be able to get out and run,” Akins said. “I feel like we are going to score a lot more points this year. That comes with running. I can go out there and play hard for all of my minutes and get a breather and have somebody come in and produce. We’ve got that as a team.”
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