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Michigan State basketball: Realistic starting 5 projections for 2023-24

By Connor Muldowney

Michigan State Spartans' A.J. Hoggard (11) Mady Sissoko (22), Tyson Walker (2) and forward Malik Hall (25) during the 69-60 win over Marquette in the second round of the NCAA tournament in Columbus, Ohio, March 19, 2023.Msumarq 031923 Kd6627 MSU huddle
Michigan State Spartans' A.J. Hoggard (11) Mady Sissoko (22), Tyson Walker (2) and forward Malik Hall (25) during the 69-60 win over Marquette in the second round of the NCAA tournament in Columbus, Ohio, March 19, 2023.Msumarq 031923 Kd6627 MSU huddle /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 23: Jaden Akins #3 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates a basket against Ismael Massoud #25 of the Kansas State Wildcats during the second half in the Sweet 16 round game of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 23, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 23: Jaden Akins #3 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates a basket against Ismael Massoud #25 of the Kansas State Wildcats during the second half in the Sweet 16 round game of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 23, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

Rounding out the best backcourt in the Big Ten will be Jaden Akins, assuming he’s not scared away by the return of Tyson Walker.

Akins isn’t playing his natural position at the two, but college basketball has become somewhat positionless nowadays which is why the lineup worked out with him, Walker, and AJ Hoggard all playing at the same time. They seemed to feed off each other and someone was always open because of the amount of attention these guys each drew.

I don’t think Akins will be scared away by the prospect of playing on the wing again, especially since he grew leaps and bounds as a player in the latter stages of the season when he was fully healthy and playing with absolute confidence.

The sophomore from Farmington, Mich., scored in double figures in six of the final seven games after having just seven double-digit scoring games in his first 22. That confidence will carry over.

Akins finished the season averaging 9.8 points and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 42 percent from deep and being the team’s best perimeter defender. Michigan State needs him back.

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