Michigan State basketball: Jaxon Kohler showing improved confidence

Moneyball has taken center stage for Michigan State basketball fans this month and certain players have stepped up, looking like legit breakout candidates.

We’ve seen Coen Carr throwing down between-the-legs dunks, Xavier Booker has put up nice numbers, Mady Sissoko and Carson Cooper both look to be in much better shape, and Jeremy Fears looks like the point guard of the future.

One player has really stood out this offseason thus far as he’s been putting in work with NBA players and it’s paying off at Moneyball.

That player is Jaxon Kohler.

On Tuesday night, he dropped 53 points and 18 rebounds against Xavier Booker.

If he can continue to show that he has a deep bag like this with jumpers, spin moves in the post, and aggressiveness on the glass, Michigan State will benefit tremendously.

Jaxon Kohler is key to Michigan State basketball’s post success

Kohler had a fairly quiet freshman season with 3.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 0.5 blocks in 10.8 minutes per game. He appeared in 34 contests as well.

But he just scratched the surface. He showed the ability to score in different ways in the post, but it took a minute before his confidence increased. And then Kohler played just nine minutes in the NCAA Tournament as fellow freshman Carson Cooper really took control of that backup center spot.

Now, it looks like Kohler has something to prove and he could be the team’s breakout star in the post. If that happens and he becomes a legitimate post threat, Michigan State could be the most complete team in the Big Ten.

All we have to worry about now is his defense.