Jaden Akins is getting hot at the right time – just like last year

Jaden Akins is catching fire at the perfect time for Michigan State basketball — just like he did last season.

Jaden Akins has been on an absolute tear for Michigan State recently. In MSU’s 80-72 win over Penn State, Akins was dominant, especially in the first half where he finished with 16 points. For the game, Akins finished with 20 points, three rebounds, and one assist.

Akins was also extremely efficient, shooting 8-for-17 overall and 4-for-9 from the 3-point line. You might think this game was an anomaly for him, but it’s become more of the norm. He’s starting to get hot when Michigan State needs it most, and it just so happens he did the same thing last year as well.

Jaden Akins is catching fire as we approach March

Twenty points is a lot for Akins to score in any one game, but he has shown he can do that from time to time this year. The Penn State game was his third 20-point game this season. Even more impressively, it was his second 20-point game in five games.

On top of being able to explode offensively, he has also become an all-around consistent scorer.

Akins has finished in double figures in six of his last seven games which is exactly what MSU needs. Akins also has been above 40 percent from the 3-point line in four of his last five games as well. He won’t be MSU’s long-term go-to scorer as Tyson Walker and potentially Malik Hall are those guys right now. But Akins is that consistent secondary piece that every team needs.

To win in March, you have to have two things. One is that alpha go-to scorer and the second is complementary and consistent secondary pieces. Akins fits that second role and has played it to perfection recently.

Each team wants to see their guys get hot as they inch towards March, and that’s exactly what Akins is doing. This, however, shouldn’t be a surprise, as he did the exact same thing last year.

He was hot this time last year too

Around the end of February last year, Akins once again was getting hot. He finished in double figures in six of MSU’s last seven games in 2023, which is the exact stretch he’s currently on. He also was hot from three, shooting above 55 percent in four of its last seven games. I’m sure you all remember his iconic performance in the Sweet 16 loss when he finished with 16 points and was 4-for-5 from deep.

I say all this about last year to show that it shouldn’t be shocking seeing Akins get hot right now. He got hot at the same time last year, and he appears to be doing it once again. If Akins can continue scoring 13-15 points a night, that will raise the ceiling of this team immensely. So much focus will go on Walker and Hall right now, which will open up even more opportunities for Akins.

The Spartans still have six regular season games remaining, with a road trip to Michigan up next. It’ll be interesting to see if Akins stays hot or not, and if he does I know I’ll be predicting Michigan State to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.