Michigan State basketball: Fans should be excited about Jaxon Kohler’s progress

When Tom Izzo landed Jaxon Kohler in his 2022 class, Michigan State basketball fans were ecstatic that a player with a potentially extensive skillset would be gracing the post.

Kohler had great footwork, flashed a little inside-out game, and had some really good touch around the rim. He looked like the next great Michigan State big, with a little work, of course.

But in year one with the Spartans, Kohler didn’t have the biggest role and had his fair share of struggles. He showed flashes of what he could do, but it was never consistent enough to earn a consistent role. In the postseason, it felt like Carson Cooper ate up some of Kohler’s minutes.

Kohler is poised to make sure that doesn’t happen again and he’s working hard this offseason to piece together a better all-around game.

The Michigan State basketball big dominates at open gym

It’s always fun to see how guys are working in the offseason and Kohler is really putting in that extra work. He shared a highlight on Friday of him getting a good run in at an open gym (it looks like it’s at USC) and his overall game looks vastly improved.

Kohler flashed that elite footwork but he also showed the rest of his extensive bag. He apparently has a decent fadeaway game, a perimeter game, a contested layup game, and a one-dribble jumper game. His bag is deeper than we originally thought.

If Kohler can continue this type of growth and play this way in 2023-24, it’s going to be really hard for Tom Izzo to keep him off the floor.

I think we’re about to see a breakout year from the sophomore big man.