NCAA Basketball: Ranking 2021 4-Star G Jaden Akins top 6 programs
By Ian Mumm
1. Michigan State Spartans
The 2021 recruiting class has already been very kind to the Spartans. Tom Izzo has landed 5-star wing Max Christie and Akins’ 4-star AAU teammate Pierre Brooks. Michigan State currently has the 5th overall class in the nation and has the potential to make it even more dangerous.
The commitments of Christie and Brooks, in addition to the presence of sophomore guard Rocket Watts, should not scare off Akins. His primary position is point guard, despite his scoring prowess, and there is a possibility Watts may have a strong enough season in 2020 to enter the NBA Draft early. If Watts decides to stay for his junior season in 2021, Brooks would likely be the odd man out of the starting rotation.
Watts began to emerge late in the 2019 season and showed possibilities of a successful 2-guard system with the Spartans. Whether it’s with Watts or Brooks, Akins can carry over the same success during his freshman season. His offensive development and tendencies on the floor are very similar to Watts and should allow for a seamless transition in East Lansing.
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As a perimeter threat, Akins adds more consistency to the Spartans attack. It’s also a strong complement to the interior strength typically held by Izzo teams in recent years. The addition of Christie and the familiarity of Brooks on the wings are likely to make Akins incredibly comfortable and play incredibly loose on the floor. He has every reason to excel in the green and white.