Michigan State basketball: What each NBA draft prospect must work on

What does each possible Michigan State basketball NBA prospect need to show this upcoming season in order to secure a shot at the next level?

Michigan State basketball is beginning its scrimmages overseas in Spain, but the regular season is also just around the corner. The Spartans had quite a bit of turnover this past offseason, but there are still a handful of guys who plan on competing at the next level. So what does each guy need to show this year in order to get that chance? Let’s dive into it. 

As a disclaimer, I don’t think Tre Holloman, Jace Richardson, or Jeremy Fears will be moving on after this season. Holloman and Fears still have plenty to prove, and we still aren’t sure what we have in Richardson. 

Additionally, I’ve included a post-script note for each player from their first scrimmage of the year against the Madrid All-Stars.

Jaden Akins, 6-foot-4 senior guard

• Consistency
• More aggressive offensively 
• Present for each game

Jaden Akins is no stranger to the NBA draft. He has already declared for the draft before, and has eventually withdrawn each time. Time is finally run out on Akins at MSU, though, as he is entering his senior, and likely final, season in East Lansing. 

With that being the case, Akins definitely has to improve in a few areas to ensure he catches on at the next level. The first being his consistency. Last season, Akins went on streaks from the perimeter, shooting 46 percent over a month in December and January, but then shot just 21 percent from mid-January to mid-February. His form is smooth and quick, and he’s easily one of the best 3-point shooters on this team, but he has to show it consistently from deep. 

Additionally, Akins has been relegated to more of a spot-up shooter throughout his time with the Spartans so far, thanks to the talent we’ve had around him. This year, he has to prove he can be the go-to scorer off the dribble. He has to be the main initiator for this team and be much more aggressive on the offensive end. Last season, he averaged just 10.4 points per game. Ideally, Akins will need to get that into the 15-17 points per game range. 

Finally, Akins needs to be present for each game. We saw Malik Hall go through this same thing, having stretches in which he seemed to disappear. Hall would eventually figure it out, but Akins has to take his leadership role as seriously as possible and lay it on the line each night. As Akins himself told the Lansing State Journal, “I kind of waited my turn. I’m the guy now.”

It’s time to prove it. 

*Post scrimmage No. 1 notes against Madrid All-Stars: Akins struggled tremendously. He seemed to go in the opposite direction of every item I laid out here.

Xavier Booker, 6-foot-11 sophomore forward/center

• Consistency
• Defensive awareness
• Offensive presence, away from the 3-point line

Xavier Booker received possibly the most hype from a recruit since the Jaren Jackson days, and understandably so. He played a similar game to Jackson, and was built in the same mold as the Memphis Grizzlies center. But as you watched more of his high school games, it became apparent that fans would have to be more patient with the big man than originally expected. He was closer to a multi-year starter than a one-and-done, and that’s OK. Last season, Tom Izzo finally began to let Booker run, and Spartan fans saw flashes of what can be. 

Over 27 games, but just 9.2 minutes per game, Booker averaged 3.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, and shot an impressive 33.3% from three as a 6-foot-11 big man. But, if you take Xavier’s stats per 40 minutes, he’s averaging over 16 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks. Those are numbers that get you noticed at the next level. 

With that being said though, similar to Jaden Akins, Xavier Booker needs to work on consistency. I do think that having him on the court more will translate to being more consistent, but he has to jump on the opportunity and do so. 

If you watched Booker at any capacity last season, you likely saw him lose track of his defender or a weak side cutter. It was almost amazing how often he got beat defensively. He has the size and ability, which is evident in his per-40 2.2 blocks per game, but mentally, he has to take great strides this upcoming year on the defensive end. He needs to be more alert and aware of the players around him to truly be a menace down low. 

The last area I think Booker needs to improve in in order to have a chance in the NBA is his offensive presence outside of three pointers. Far too often last season we saw Booker float out to, and then stay, along the perimeter. I get that he has a coveted skill at 6-foot-11 to nail threes, but to fully utilize that, he needs to be able to operate around the paint or with post moves down low as well. He doesn’t need to live down low 24/7, but when he elects to stick around only the perimeter, teams can treat him like a true three or four, when he has the size and skill to be a stretch five. 

*Post scrimmage No. 1 note against Madrid All-Stars: Xavier Booker looked incredible. He seemed to have spent his offseason honing in on a few of the areas I’ve mentioned here. Definitely still has work to do defensively, but his play was very promising.

Frankie Fidler, 6-foot-7 senior forward

• Defense
• Toughness
• Scoring, not on the free throw line

Frankie Fidler is the hardest to speak on in this regard. He hasn’t played a minute in Tom Izzo’s system and he also has not played against opponents like the Big Ten. Fidler, transferring from the University of Nebraska Omaha, averaged an impressive 20.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 36 percent from deep. Now that he’s with the Spartans, he may struggle to adjust to an Izzo led program or to the better Big Ten competition and come away from this year with multiple things to work on and need a fifth year. 

As of now, Fidler needs to work most on his defensive abilities and toughness. Reports out of Omaha are that his defense is well below average. His lack of speed and quick movement makes him a liability on one-on-one defense, and even though he has the length at 6-foot-7, he needs to move his feet better to fully utilize it. 

Additionally, as far as toughness goes, the Summit League is far different from the Big Ten. Izzo is a far tougher coach than anyone Fidler has come across at this point, and he will need to prove that he’s mentally and physically tough to make it.  

Frankie’s scoring as a wing is great. He’s a career threat from deep, and can get it done elsewhere, too. The only thing that scares me is that he sometimes relies on getting to the free throw line a bit too much. Last year, he averaged 7.7 free throws a game. Now, he converted on 85 percent of those and points are points, but I want to see him continue to create and score from the floor, relying less on the refs putting him at the line. Against eight Power Six opponents last year, Fidler saw his average drop from 20.1 to just 10 points per game. His game will need to evolve in the Big Ten.

*Post scrimmage No. 1 note against Madrid All-Stars: Fidler put on a clinic from the midrange and looked very comfortable. These opponents are nowhere near the physical Big Ten teams so we will learn more as the season begins. 

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