Well, it didn’t take very long for ex-Michigan State big man Jaxon Kohler to become a fan favorite in Provo after transferring to BYU this offseason.
It looked like Kohler was going to be pursuing the NBA route, appearing in the Summer League with the Utah Jazz, but he won a court battle to earn another year of eligibility. Michigan State already filled up its roster with Anton Bonke and a four-man freshman class coming in; Tom Izzo dismissed the idea of Kohler returning.
The transfer to BYU was something Izzo was more than OK with but losing him is going to take a minute to get over. It’s going to get even worse if he keeps playing as well as he has through two exhibition games with the Cougars.
Fans in Provo love what they’re seeing.
And so do his teammates.
"That man right there, that's a grown man."@bkbranch3 is BLESSED by Jaxon Kohler on the BYU roster pic.twitter.com/CGgzjJEt54
— BYUtv Sports Nation (@BYUSportsNation) October 27, 2026
Kohler had a double-double in an exhibition win over a solid Nebraska team and then finished with 19 points and five rebounds in a follow-up victory over UNLV. He’s looked really good and completely comfortable in a new system. Kohler shot 50 percent from the floor and 5-for-11 from three in the two wins.
It’s only taken a couple of months for Kohler to go from a stranger to a fan favorite and a major glue piece in the locker room.
It feels a little bittersweet to watch Kohler succeed while wearing a different uniform. It’d be nice to have him in the green and white this season, especially with the frontcourt looking like a potential weakness.
Michigan State could use another Jaxon Kohler
Izzo cited a team full of quiet guys and poor communication as reasons for the struggles against UConn and Marquette and that wouldn’t be the case if Kohler was still in East Lansing.
Kohler held teammates accountable and was the perfect leader. It helped that he was also really good and arguably the Spartans’ most consistent offensive player.
Now he’s helping BYU turn into a national title contender and he’s playing some of the best basketball of his career. He has gotten better every year and now he’s about to turn into an absolute demon with the Cougars because of course. Because why not? Michigan State needs someone other than Jeremy Fears to be that outspoken captain or else it won’t win anything. The Spartans sorely miss Kohler.
They’ll figure it out like they always do and they’ll make a run in March because they’re too talented not to.
It’s only fitting that Kohler and the Cougars get matched up with the Spartans in the tourney.
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