Michigan State Basketball: Jaden Akins adds to Spartans recruiting haul

Michigan State Basketball is by many accounts, having the greatest recruiting summer ever, adding another top-rated recruit in Jaden Akins.

Jaden Akins, rated No. 64 nationally by rivals.com, committed to Michigan State Basketball as the third commitment to already talented and highly touted 2021 recruiting class. Previous to announcing that he would become a student-athlete at Michigan State for the 2021-2022 school year, he had narrowed his choices to six schools.

His commitment along with the announcements of commitments from Max Christie and Pierre Brooks for the 2021 Michigan State incoming class for next season, make Michigan State’s recruiting class amongst the top in the nation. The national media is taking notice of the tremendous job that coach Tom Izzo and his staff had done this offseason.

Akins commitment is very significant because if Emoni Bates and Enoch Boakye reclassify to the 2021 class which is a real possibility, Michigan State without little or no doubt or debate will have the most talented group of incoming student-athletes in Michigan State basketball program history. However, the availability of scholarships may be an issue but something that Izzo and his staff more than likely already have a plan in place for.

Akins is a 6’3 point guard from Farmington, MI. He and Bates announced along with other student-athletes that they are transferring to Ypsilanti Prep Academy in the Fall.

Multiple film breakdowns of Akins by various people covering college basketball argue that he is very underrated and is a very talented point guard.

Michigan State has players who have and who can play the point guard position in Foster Loyer, Rocket Watts, incoming freshmen AJ Hoggard, and Jack Hoiberg. However, Izzo was clearly looking to add a point guard for the 2021 incoming recruiting class to help bolster Michigan State’s backcourt.

Cassius Winston graduated and is heading into the NBA draft, the Spartans do not have a proven point guard of the future. Watts is more of a shooting guard but more than likely will be the starting point guard this season and Hoggard is a true freshman. Loyer has experience but struggled to find consistent playing time behind Winstons these past two seasons.

There is a window of opportunity for Akins entering the 2021 season especially if Watts declares for the draft after this upcoming season.

Akins may not be the most highly rated of the potential “Dynamic Five” of Christie, Brooks, Bates, and Boakye in a possible dream 2021 recruiting class for Izzo and the Spartans. However, he should not be undervalued or overlooked because he isn’t currently a top-30 national recruit.

The point guard position is very important in Izzo’s offense as evident with the success under Winston the past three seasons. Akins has the opportunity to possibly be the next great Michigan State point guard.