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Tom Izzo on Jaden Akins: “I think he can make a monster jump”

Tom Izzo hasn’t had a healthy Jaden Akins in practice for the majority of the preseason due to a foot injury, but that doesn’t mean that he’s not bullish on his potential for the upcoming year.

“I think he can make a monster jump,” Izzo said of the 6-4 Akins Monday on the College Hoops Today Podcast. “He can play at both ends. He’s a better shooter than he was last year. He’s my hardest worker. He’s the best athlete on my team and he’s one of the best defenders.”

To say that Akins — who averaged 3.4 points and 2.4 rebounds last season as a freshman — is a critical piece for Michigan State this season would be a colossal understatement. The Spartans lost their top three scorers — Gabe Brown, Marcus Bingham, and Max Christie — from last season and need Akins to give them major mileage on the wing.

Izzo added that there is still no official set date for Akins’ return, but that he’s “doing more every day in practice” and “could return early in the season”.

Michigan State is about to undertake the most difficult non-conference schedule that it’s ever had under Izzo and needs a healthy Akins in the lineup as soon as possible.

The Spartans may potentially play nine power conference opponents in a row from Nov. 11th to Dec. 7th, headlined by neutral conference matchups with Gonzaga (San Diego) and Kentucky (Champions Classic) as well as three tilts in the prestigious PK85 in Portland over Thanksgiving Weekend. There’s also a home game against Villanova in the Gavitt Games and a road trip to Notre Dame in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

“I sometimes look around and see who I can fire for this schedule,” Izzo joked. “It’s the most daunting schedule travel wise that I’ve ever had.”

Michigan State is currently ranked 35th in the ROTHSTEIN 45.

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