Michigan State is a Family Affair for Kyle Ahrens

By Peter Hulett
For MSUSpartans.com

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Nearly every time Michigan State senior guard/forward Kyle Ahrens walks into the basketball locker room, he tells a joke to his team. It's a small example of his unwavering, positive spirit, something that has been on daily display over the past five years.

Ahrens has found his way through success, and tough times, to be a role model and leader for the Spartans.

"I feel like it's my job to get these guys prepared, like Rocket (Watts), Malik (Hall), Julius (Marble), and a lot of the younger guys, the sophomores, get them prepared for when I'm not here," Ahrens said. "The seniors, my freshman year helped me out a lot. They helped me get through it. It's kind of like a constant chain."

Ahrens has developed into the team's center of composure. Sophomore forward Gabe Brown was eager arriving as a new player, but wasn't prepared for what was to come.

"I was a young, young freshman. I had a lot of confidence in myself. It was about how I was going to come in and start, all this it's all that… but that's not how it worked out," Brown said. "So, Kyle, every day in practice, just tells me keep my head, just be solid out there. Even now, he always tells me good shot on a play or you could do this or you could do that."

Brown sees Ahrens as a leader and a teacher, essential in helping younger players develop as players and people.

"That's one thing I need here, because sometimes I get lost out there," Brown said. "Kyle has got my back out there, and that makes a big difference."

Ahrens, who turns 24 on March 6, is the Spartans' oldest player. He has witnessed first round exits and Final Four runs in the NCAA tournament. He's fought through personal adversity, with a well-documented history of serious injuries to his ankle and foot.

"Last year when he got hurt, that's probably the saddest thing I've seen here because Kyle works so hard," Brown said. "Kyle wants to be great. There were times where he felt like he wasn't part of the team, but that's never the case, because Kyle gave his all to us."

To help him through, Brown and others took it upon themselves to bring his spirits up. Aherns, showed in return, a new brand of toughness.

"We kept his head high, talked to him every day," Brown said. "Kyle is the definition of a 'Spartan Dawg'. If you had to give the Spartan Dawg award, through his career, he's got it. He's committed to the team, he's committed to the program. Kyle was coaching us from the sideline when he was hurt. He's shown that commitment and we gave it back to him."

Ahrens couldn't physically play last postseason, but he gave Brown and the team everything else he had in the form of support.
"They keep me motivate me each and every day. They know what I love," Ahrens said. "Just having these teammates too, coming into an environment where they're always motivating you, wanting you to get better… I always have people to talk to. It's very beneficial."

Family follows Ahrens on and off the court. He is one of two married MSU players, as he was married last July to his high school sweetheart, Janelle.

Ahrens plans to stay in East Lansing after his career ends, as his wife teaches middle school math. Later, he plans to move back to their hometown of Versailles, Ohio and pursue real estate. He will be around Michigan State, but it won't be the same as being at practice every day.

"What I'm going to miss most," Brown said, followed by a long pause, "just me being around him. Not even on the court, just off the court, Kyle is a great guy. He's my brother. After the Michigan game, I remember the conversation we had. He said, 'I'm so proud of you', after everything we fought through, and everything he saw me go through, he just said he was proud of me and we hugged. That's probably one of the greatest memories I've got with him."

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