Any time Tom Izzo has one of his “special” Michigan State teams, they see so much success because one or two upperclassmen take massive leaps from the previous year.
Izzo knows a thing or two about developing players, and Jaxon Kohler is the next in line to become an ideal 3-4-year Spartan. He follows the recent footsteps of guys like Xavier Tillman, Aaron Henry, Joey Hauser, Malik Hall, and Jaden Akins who began their Spartan careers modestly, but who became fan favorites and some of the most celebrated players since the last Final Four.
Those past Spartans had special final seasons, but not all saw the same success, team-wise, as some of the legends before them.
Just before them (or at the same time), there were guys like Denzel Valentine, Travis Trice, Cassius Winston, Adreian Payne, Drew Neitzel, and Draymond Green who stayed for four years, made their marks, made Final Fours, won Big Ten titles, and are now celebrated as some of the greatest Spartans that have ever come through the program.
Kohler is joining that list with a historic senior season.
Yes, I said historic.
Jaxon Kohler is putting up some eye-popping numbers
Kohler’s “historic” season has a lot to do with his biggest improvement: 3-point shooting. While he’s been rebounding at a better clip than he ever has (also 16th nationally), Kohler is making just about everything he throws at the basket.
The senior big man is shooting a mind-numbing 51.6% from three and he’s also averaging 14.4 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. That puts him in rare territory.
How rare? Well, he’s on pace to become the only Division I men’s basketball player ever to average at least 10 points and 10 rebounds while shooting over 50 percent from deep.
Jaxon Kohler this season:
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) January 14, 2026
• 14.4 pts/gm
• 10.1 reb/gm
• 51.6% 3PT
Since at least 1986-87 (when 3pt stats were tracked)…
Kohler is currently the ONLY player in D-I men’s history in a season to avg:
• 10+ PPG
• 10+ RPG
• 50%+ 3PT (min 50 att)
Now that’s GREAT hoops. https://t.co/4HPCJaGQQ2
Massive credit to Ben Stevens for researching this incredible factoid. He loves himself some Big Ten football and basketball, so it’s no surprise he was on top of that crazy statistic.
Kohler has been one of the most improved players in college basketball this season, and we might just see him hoisting a second straight Big Ten titles trophy in March. Heck, why not a regional final champions trophy?
This has the makings of one of those special seasons.