Michigan State Basketball: Projected depth chart/rotation for 2023-24 season

Power forward: Malik Hall, Jaxon Kohler, and Xavier Booker

Malik Hall: 8.9 ppg / 4.3 rpg

The depth issues continue at the four-spot. Not only will fifth-year senior Malik Hall be spending time at small forward, but he will also be the Spartans’ starting power forward. At 6 foot 7 and 215 pounds, Hall is best suited for the small forward position as he will be able to turn his back and drop his shoulder in order to ‘bully’ his way into the paint. A far cry from being confused with a ‘stretch-four’ Hall did hit two 3-pointers in five different games last season. His ‘ go-to move’ however with be a hop step into the key and finish with a baby hook over his defender.

Jaxon Kohler:  3 ppg / 2.9 rpg / 10.8 mpg

At 6 foot 9 and 240 pounds, the 2022 No. 44 ranked freshman will be spending a lot of time as the backup center as well, further highlighting how thin the Spartans are in the frontcourt. Kohler connected on half of the 99 shots he attempted last season, but his size will be his greatest asset. Despite being a lesser scoring threat than Sissoko, his screen setting ability is just as effective. In his second year, Kohler’s defense and rebounding will dictate just how much playing time Kohler gets as he plays behind and waits to take over for senior Mady Sissoko.

Xavier Booker:

As a 6’10 high schooler, Xavier Booker started and finished a lot of fast breaks, and he finished those fast breaks with a two-handed dunk. Those dunks were a big factor in his 15.2 points per game average with The Cathedral (Indianapolis).

His 8.5 rebounds per game demonstrate his effectiveness in high school, yet in a playoff loss to Ben Davis, the No.13 ranked freshman scored just nine points on four of nine shooting, his second-worst shooting performance of the season. At just 210 pounds, the physical aspect of the Big Ten may take time to adjust to, thus limiting Bookers’ minutes.