2022-23 M. Basketball Roster
Roster
Akins, Jaden
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
Jersey Number 3
Jaden Akins
- Position:
- G
- Height:
- 6-4
- Weight:
- 190
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Farmington, Mich.
- High School:
- Farmington
- Prev School:
- Sunrise Christian Academy (Kan.)
Bio
THE WORD
A very athletic combo guard • Has the ability to shoot from three, but can create and get into the paint • Very quick first step • Had a tremendous summer, attending the Formula Zero camp in Portland and CP3 camp in Los Angeles • Expected to take a bigger role in his sophomore season.
Career: In 138 career games, Akins scored 1,252 points and left Michigan State ranked 32nd on the all-time scoring list … Scored in double figures 30 times as a senior in 2024-25 and 68 for his career … Passed the 1,000-point mark for his career on Jan. 12 in a win at Northwestern, becoming the 57th player in program history to reach that mark … Akins is one of 17 MSU players in program history to score at least 1,000 points, grab 400 rebounds and hand out at least 150 assists. 2024-25 (Senior): A Second Team 2024-25 Academic All-America® selection … An All-Big Ten Third Team selection by the league’s coaches and a member of the All-Big Ten Defensive Team … Selected to the Great Lakes All-District First Team by the National Association of Basketball Coaches … The only player to start all 37 games for the Spartans … Led the team in scoring with 12.8 points per game … Fourth on the team with 3.5 rebounds, while adding 1.5 assists … Shot 39.8 percent from the floor (176-of-442), led the team in 3-point field goals made (58) and hit 76.2 percent of his free throws (64-of-84) … Scored in double figures 30 times and led the team in scoring 11 times … Had three games with at least 20 points, including a career-high 25 points vs. Samford (11/19/24) … ¬Averaged 12.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists during Big Ten games … Recorded his first career double-double with 13 points, a career-high 12 rebounds and a career-best 6 assists in a win over Bowling Green (11/16/24) … Tied his career-high for minutes played in a game (35) twice, first against North Carolina in an overtime win in the Maui Invitational (11/27) and then in a win over Indiana (2/11) … Passed the 1,000-point mark for his career on Jan. 12 in a win at Northwestern, becoming the 57th player in program history to reach that mark … Scored 20 points and had three rebounds in a victory at home against Washington (1/9/25) … Opened the season with a then-career high 23 points, along with 9 rebounds and 5 assists, in a win over Monmouth (11/4/24) … An Academic All-Big Ten selection … Selected to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Honors Court, recognizing players with a 3.2 cumulative grade-point average or higher. 2023-24 (Junior): The only player on the team to start all 35 games … Finished fourth on the team in scoring with 10.4 points per game … Also fourth on the team with 3.9 rebounds while adding 1.2 assists and 1.1 steals in 28.5 minutes per game … Tied for the team lead in 3-pointers made (64), connecting on 36.4 percent of his shots from outside the arc (64-of-176) … Ranked 14th in the Big Ten in 3-point field goals made (1.83/game) … Shot 41.0 percent from the floor overall (141-of-344) … In Big Ten games, averaged 9.9 points and 3.1 rebounds … Led the team in 3-pointers made in Big Ten games (39) … Ranked 10th in the Big Ten in 3-point field goals made in conference games (1.95/game) … Scored in double figures 22 times, including three games with at least 20 points … Notched a career-best and Big Ten-best 23 points in a home win over Michigan (1/30), notching the 700th career win for Head Coach Tom Izzo … In that game, he connected on 7 shots from 3-point land, a career-best and Big Ten personal best … Led the team in scoring three times, scoring 14 points at Georgia Southern (11/28), 22 points at home against Stony Brook (12/21) and 23 against Michigan … Hit a career-high high 9-of-12 field goals in the win over Stony Brook … Scored 20 points in a win at Penn State (2/14) … Handed out a career-high five assists against Iowa (2/20) … Opened the season with a career-high 11 rebounds against James Madison (11/6) … An Academic All-Big Ten selection.
2022-23 (Sophomore): Appeared in 30 games, starting 25 times … Had offseason surgery and returned for the first four games of the season before missing four games … Finished fourth on the team in scoring with 9.8 points per game … Also averaged 4.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 steals … Ranked 15th in the Big Ten in steals per game … Finished the season shooting 42.0 percent from the floor (110-of-162) … Connected on 42.2 percent of his 3-point attempts (49-of-116) and was second on the team in 3-point percentage and in 3-pointers made … Scored in double figures 13 times (8-5 record), including eight times against Big Ten opponents, and had at least five rebounds 11 times … Started 18 of 19 Big Ten games, averaging 9.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 steals … Reached double figures in scoring in six of the last seven games of the season, averaging 13.4 points and 3.6 rebounds during that stretch … Averaged 11.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals during the NCAA Tournament … Scored a career-high and Big Ten career-high 21 points in a loss at Iowa (2/25) … Grabbed a career-high nine rebounds in a win at Ohio State (2/12) … Handed out a career-high four assists and set a career mark with four steals in a home win over Rutgers (1/19) … Scored 16 points, with four rebounds, three assists, a career-high three blocks and one steal in the Sweet Sixteen loss to Kansas State (3/23) … An Academic All-Big Ten selection … The recipient of the Harold & Raynor Shnider Office of the Provost Award at MSU’s Student-Athlete Support Services (SASS) Spartan Academic Excellence Gala.
2021-22 (Freshman)
Appeared in 36 games • Made one start, vs. High Point on Dec. 29 • Finished the season averaging 3.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in 14.8 minutes per game • Shot 39.4 percent from the floor (43-of-109) and 38.0 percent from 3-point land (19-of-50) • Appeared in all 20 Big Ten games, averaging 2.6 points and 2.2 rebounds in 13.9 minutes • Scored in double figures three times • Had a career-high 12 points, with three rebounds, in 18 minutes against Baylor (11/26) in the championship game of the Battle 4 Atlantis • Scored 10 points and had three rebounds in win over Louisville (12/1) • Tallied a Big Ten-career high 10 points, with two rebounds, at Wisconsin (1/21) • Scored at least 5 points in 10 games • Scored nine points with career-highs in rebounds (7) and minutes played (24) in a win over Toledo (12/4) • Played a Big Ten career-high 24 minutes at Maryland (2/1) • Handed out a career-high 4 assists in the regular season finale against Maryland (3/6).
HIGH SCHOOL
A four-star prospect who was rated No. 50 overall nationally and No. 12 among point guards by 247Sports • Attended Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas last year, the same program as current MSU teammate Malik Hall and former Spartan standout Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn Jr. • Helped lead Sunrise to a 21-4 record and a spot in the GEICO National championship game • Scored 14 points in the title game loss to Montverde (Florida) Academy • Earned an invitation to the Allen Iverson Roundball Classic • As a junior at Farmington, averaged 23.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 blocks per game • A third-team Detroit Free Press Division I All-State selection in 2020.
PERSONAL
Jaden Christopher Akins • Born on February 25, 2003 in Farmington Hills, Mich. • The son of Jerome Akins and April Simmons • Has an older brother, Myles • Favorite movie is Grown-Ups • Favorite TV show is Show-power • Favorite book is Ted & Me • Favorite athlete is Michael Jordan • Person or people he most admires are his parents “because they are great role models of what hard work looks like.” • Plans to major in psychology.
A very athletic combo guard • Has the ability to shoot from three, but can create and get into the paint • Very quick first step • Had a tremendous summer, attending the Formula Zero camp in Portland and CP3 camp in Los Angeles • Expected to take a bigger role in his sophomore season.
Career: In 138 career games, Akins scored 1,252 points and left Michigan State ranked 32nd on the all-time scoring list … Scored in double figures 30 times as a senior in 2024-25 and 68 for his career … Passed the 1,000-point mark for his career on Jan. 12 in a win at Northwestern, becoming the 57th player in program history to reach that mark … Akins is one of 17 MSU players in program history to score at least 1,000 points, grab 400 rebounds and hand out at least 150 assists. 2024-25 (Senior): A Second Team 2024-25 Academic All-America® selection … An All-Big Ten Third Team selection by the league’s coaches and a member of the All-Big Ten Defensive Team … Selected to the Great Lakes All-District First Team by the National Association of Basketball Coaches … The only player to start all 37 games for the Spartans … Led the team in scoring with 12.8 points per game … Fourth on the team with 3.5 rebounds, while adding 1.5 assists … Shot 39.8 percent from the floor (176-of-442), led the team in 3-point field goals made (58) and hit 76.2 percent of his free throws (64-of-84) … Scored in double figures 30 times and led the team in scoring 11 times … Had three games with at least 20 points, including a career-high 25 points vs. Samford (11/19/24) … ¬Averaged 12.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists during Big Ten games … Recorded his first career double-double with 13 points, a career-high 12 rebounds and a career-best 6 assists in a win over Bowling Green (11/16/24) … Tied his career-high for minutes played in a game (35) twice, first against North Carolina in an overtime win in the Maui Invitational (11/27) and then in a win over Indiana (2/11) … Passed the 1,000-point mark for his career on Jan. 12 in a win at Northwestern, becoming the 57th player in program history to reach that mark … Scored 20 points and had three rebounds in a victory at home against Washington (1/9/25) … Opened the season with a then-career high 23 points, along with 9 rebounds and 5 assists, in a win over Monmouth (11/4/24) … An Academic All-Big Ten selection … Selected to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Honors Court, recognizing players with a 3.2 cumulative grade-point average or higher. 2023-24 (Junior): The only player on the team to start all 35 games … Finished fourth on the team in scoring with 10.4 points per game … Also fourth on the team with 3.9 rebounds while adding 1.2 assists and 1.1 steals in 28.5 minutes per game … Tied for the team lead in 3-pointers made (64), connecting on 36.4 percent of his shots from outside the arc (64-of-176) … Ranked 14th in the Big Ten in 3-point field goals made (1.83/game) … Shot 41.0 percent from the floor overall (141-of-344) … In Big Ten games, averaged 9.9 points and 3.1 rebounds … Led the team in 3-pointers made in Big Ten games (39) … Ranked 10th in the Big Ten in 3-point field goals made in conference games (1.95/game) … Scored in double figures 22 times, including three games with at least 20 points … Notched a career-best and Big Ten-best 23 points in a home win over Michigan (1/30), notching the 700th career win for Head Coach Tom Izzo … In that game, he connected on 7 shots from 3-point land, a career-best and Big Ten personal best … Led the team in scoring three times, scoring 14 points at Georgia Southern (11/28), 22 points at home against Stony Brook (12/21) and 23 against Michigan … Hit a career-high high 9-of-12 field goals in the win over Stony Brook … Scored 20 points in a win at Penn State (2/14) … Handed out a career-high five assists against Iowa (2/20) … Opened the season with a career-high 11 rebounds against James Madison (11/6) … An Academic All-Big Ten selection.
2022-23 (Sophomore): Appeared in 30 games, starting 25 times … Had offseason surgery and returned for the first four games of the season before missing four games … Finished fourth on the team in scoring with 9.8 points per game … Also averaged 4.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 steals … Ranked 15th in the Big Ten in steals per game … Finished the season shooting 42.0 percent from the floor (110-of-162) … Connected on 42.2 percent of his 3-point attempts (49-of-116) and was second on the team in 3-point percentage and in 3-pointers made … Scored in double figures 13 times (8-5 record), including eight times against Big Ten opponents, and had at least five rebounds 11 times … Started 18 of 19 Big Ten games, averaging 9.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 steals … Reached double figures in scoring in six of the last seven games of the season, averaging 13.4 points and 3.6 rebounds during that stretch … Averaged 11.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals during the NCAA Tournament … Scored a career-high and Big Ten career-high 21 points in a loss at Iowa (2/25) … Grabbed a career-high nine rebounds in a win at Ohio State (2/12) … Handed out a career-high four assists and set a career mark with four steals in a home win over Rutgers (1/19) … Scored 16 points, with four rebounds, three assists, a career-high three blocks and one steal in the Sweet Sixteen loss to Kansas State (3/23) … An Academic All-Big Ten selection … The recipient of the Harold & Raynor Shnider Office of the Provost Award at MSU’s Student-Athlete Support Services (SASS) Spartan Academic Excellence Gala.
2021-22 (Freshman)
Appeared in 36 games • Made one start, vs. High Point on Dec. 29 • Finished the season averaging 3.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in 14.8 minutes per game • Shot 39.4 percent from the floor (43-of-109) and 38.0 percent from 3-point land (19-of-50) • Appeared in all 20 Big Ten games, averaging 2.6 points and 2.2 rebounds in 13.9 minutes • Scored in double figures three times • Had a career-high 12 points, with three rebounds, in 18 minutes against Baylor (11/26) in the championship game of the Battle 4 Atlantis • Scored 10 points and had three rebounds in win over Louisville (12/1) • Tallied a Big Ten-career high 10 points, with two rebounds, at Wisconsin (1/21) • Scored at least 5 points in 10 games • Scored nine points with career-highs in rebounds (7) and minutes played (24) in a win over Toledo (12/4) • Played a Big Ten career-high 24 minutes at Maryland (2/1) • Handed out a career-high 4 assists in the regular season finale against Maryland (3/6).
HIGH SCHOOL
A four-star prospect who was rated No. 50 overall nationally and No. 12 among point guards by 247Sports • Attended Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas last year, the same program as current MSU teammate Malik Hall and former Spartan standout Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn Jr. • Helped lead Sunrise to a 21-4 record and a spot in the GEICO National championship game • Scored 14 points in the title game loss to Montverde (Florida) Academy • Earned an invitation to the Allen Iverson Roundball Classic • As a junior at Farmington, averaged 23.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 blocks per game • A third-team Detroit Free Press Division I All-State selection in 2020.
PERSONAL
Jaden Christopher Akins • Born on February 25, 2003 in Farmington Hills, Mich. • The son of Jerome Akins and April Simmons • Has an older brother, Myles • Favorite movie is Grown-Ups • Favorite TV show is Show-power • Favorite book is Ted & Me • Favorite athlete is Michael Jordan • Person or people he most admires are his parents “because they are great role models of what hard work looks like.” • Plans to major in psychology.
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