Michigan State basketball: Jaden Akins took step in right direction at OSU

Finishing with a modest eight points in Michigan State basketball’s blowout win of Ohio State on Sunday, one might think that there’s nothing to really talk about in regards to Jaden Akins.

Sure, he had a decent game and made some plays on both ends, but he was just 4-for-11 from the floor and a horrid 0-for-6 from 3-point range. That 3-point shooting was especially painful because most of those shots were wide open.

No, Akins’ eight points on four makes won’t jump off the stat sheet, but it’s how he scored that really showed progress in his overall game.

Yes, an eight-point performance signaled growth in the budding star sophomore.

Akins’ growth is huge for Michigan State basketball

Typically, Akins would get his points from mid-range jumpers or 3-point tries, but when he realized his jumper wasn’t dropping at Ohio State, he adjusted. He decided to use his elite athleticism to get to the rim and finish strong. He finished with four makes inside the arc on five tries and all of them were created on his own.

If Akins can continue to create for himself by getting to the basket, Michigan State’s offense becomes just that much more dangerous.

Don’t get me wrong, Akins is a plus 3-point shooter and has a really nice mid-range game but it’s nice to see him get to the rack and score with ease. This new addition to his game (which he was always capable of) will keep defenders guessing and that’s only going to make him one of the best overall players in the Big Ten next season.

We are watching Akins grow before our eyes and this was just another big step in the right direction.