After picking up a commitment from Fankie Fidler, this is what the 2024-25 Michigan State basketball starting five could look like.
It’s been a big week for Michigan State basketball.
Not only is Tom Izzo out on the recruiting trail, working hard on his 2025 class, but he just landed his first transfer since Tyson Walker committed a couple of years ago. His success rate with transfers is incredibly high as Joey Hauser was a hit, too.
But with the addition of Frankie Fidler, the Spartans’ lineup for 2024-25 is starting to take shape.
Will Izzo land a transfer center (or even a power forward)? The jury’s still out there, but I wouldn’t hold my breath as the Hall of Fame head coach has yet to be connected to any. Maybe he’s working behind the scenes. Or maybe he’s waiting until the May 1 deadline to enter the portal to really weigh his options.
As of right now, it looks like the roster might be set heading into the season (hopefully not).
So with the addition of Fidler this week, what do I believe the starting five will look like next season?
Point guard: Jeremy Fears Jr.
Do I think Jeremy Fears Jr. begins the season as the starting point guard? Actually no. He’s coming off a season-ending injury and played just 13 games as a true freshman. I could see Izzo going with Tre Holloman to start the year, but he’ll eventually move into a sixth-man role. I see Fears taking over by mid-December and leading the team at point from there on out.
Shooting guard: Jaden Akins
Some believed that Jaden Akins would test the NBA draft waters again and he still might, but all signs are pointing to him returning for his senior season. He helped recruit Fidler to Michigan State and I doubt that would’ve been the case had he planned to leave. So after a somewhat disappointing junior season, he will have a go-to scorer role as a senior and he’ll move back to his natural two-guard spot. This should be a huge year for Akins.
Small forward: Frankie Fidler
No surprise here. Michigan State basketball brought Fidler in to be a go-to scorer of sorts along with Akins and he’s going to allow Jaden to move back to the two. Fidler has nice size at 6-foot-7 and 205 pounds and he should be a serious weapon on both ends of the floor. My biggest takeaway from his stats: he gets to the free throw line a ton and hits his shots. Need that.
Power forward: Xavier Booker
I’d bet a lot of fans were expecting Xavier Booker to be a one-and-done when he committed and he probably did, too, but he was clearly very raw as a true freshman. Tom Izzo warned fans about that before the season and it was obvious. He did come along nicely and looked like a budding star at the end of the season but he needs to add muscle and improve his defense. There’s still a chance he could play center next season, but I’d be shocked if he wasn’t primarily at the power forward spot.
Center: Jaxon Kohler
This is obviously the biggest area of concern in the projected starting lineup. I do think Jaxon Kohler has talent and potential, but we saw him struggle mightily this past season after returning from a foot injury. Could he get healthy and live up to the hype? Absolutely, but he’ll need a huge summer. I still think he’s better suited to be the backup center next year, but he could prove me wrong. As of right now, Tom Izzo and Michigan State basketball are heading into the season with Kohler, Carson Cooper, and Jesse McCulloch as the center options. Not ideal.
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