What does each potential NBA candidate have to show the Michigan State basketball team in the upcoming season to secure a chance of promotion to the next league?

The Michigan State basketball team is starting practice games in Spain, but the regular season is just around the corner. The Spartans had quite a bit of turnover this past offseason, but there are still a handful of guys looking to compete at the next level. So what does each player need to show this year to get that chance? Let’s dig deeper.

As a caveat, I don’t think Tre Holloman, Jace Richardson, or Jeremy Fears will move on after this season. Holloman and Fears still have a lot to prove, and we’re still not sure what we have in Richardson.

Additionally, I have included a postscript for each player regarding their first training game of the year against the Madrid All-Stars.

Jaden Akins, 6’4″ senior guard

• consistency
• Offensively more aggressive
• At every game

Jaden Akins is no newcomer to the NBA Draft. He has declared for the draft before and withdrawn each time. However, Akins’ time at MSU is finally coming to an end as he enters his final and likely last season in East Lansing.

If so, Akins definitely needs to improve in a few areas to ensure he can compete at the next level. The first is his consistency. Last season, Akins had a hot streak from the three-point line, shooting 46 percent over a month in December and January, but only 21 percent from mid-January to mid-February. He’s in consistent and quick form and is undoubtedly one of the best three-point shooters on this team, but he needs to show that consistently from distance as well.

Additionally, during his time with the Spartans, Akins was relegated to more of a spot-up shooter due to the amount of talent we had around him. This year he needs to prove he can be the best dribbler. He needs to be the main initiator for this team and be much more aggressive on offense. Last season he averaged just 10.4 points per game. Ideally, Akins should increase that to 15-17 points per game.

Finally, Akins needs to be present every game. We saw Malik Hall go through the same thing, periods where he seemingly disappeared. Hall would figure it out eventually, but Akins needs to take his leadership role as seriously as possible and give it his all every night. As Akins himself told the Lansing State Journal, “I kind of waited my turn. Now I’m the man.”

It’s time to prove it.

*Notes #1 after practice game against Madrid All-Stars: Akins was struggling tremendously. He seemed to be going in the opposite direction of everything I’ve laid out here.

Xavier Booker, 6’0″ sophomore forward/center

• consistency
• Defensive awareness
• Offensive presence, away from the 3-point line

Xavier Booker probably received the most hype from a recruit since the days of Jaren Jackson, and understandably so. He played a similar game to Jackson and was cut from the same cloth as the Memphis Grizzlies center. But the more of his high school games you watched, the more it became clear that fans would have to be more patient with the big man than they initially expected. He was more of a perennial starter than a one-and-done, and that’s OK. Last season, Tom Izzo finally let Booker walk, and Spartan fans saw glimpses of what’s possible.

In 27 games but only 9.2 minutes per game, Booker averaged 3.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and an impressive 33.3% three-point shooting as a 6-foot-4 big man. But when you look at Xavier’s stats per 40 minutes, he averages over 16 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks. Those are numbers that will get you noticed at the next level.

However, Xavier Booker, like Jaden Akins, needs to work on his consistency. I think he will become more consistent with more playing time on the court, but he needs to take advantage of the opportunity and do that.

If you watched Booker in any capacity last season, you probably saw him lose track of his defender or a weak sidecutter. It was almost astonishing how often he got beat defensively. He has the size and skill, which is evident in his 2.2 blocks per game, but mentally he needs to make big strides defensively in the coming year. He needs to be more alert and aware of the players around him to truly pose a threat down low.

The final area I think Booker needs to improve in to have a chance in the NBA is his offensive presence outside of three-point shots. Last season, we saw Booker go to the perimeter and stay there far too often. I understand that at 6’10 he has the coveted ability to hit threes, but to fully utilize that ability he also needs to be able to operate around the zone or with post moves down low. He doesn’t need to stay down low 24/7, but if he chooses to just stay on the perimeter, teams can treat him like a true three or four if he has the size and skills to be a stretch five.

*Note #1 after the practice game against Madrid All-Stars: Xavier Booker looked incredible. He seemed to have spent his offseason focusing on some of the areas I mentioned here. Defensively he definitely needs to work, but his play was very promising.

Frankie Fidler, 2.00 m tall striker

• defense
• toughness
• Points, not at the free throw line

Frankie Fidler is the hardest player to talk about in that regard. He hasn’t played a minute in Tom Izzo’s system, nor against opponents like the Big Ten. Fidler, who transferred from the University of Nebraska Omaha, averaged an impressive 20.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 36 percent from long range. Now that he’s with the Spartans, he may struggle to adjust to an Izzo-led program or better Big Ten competition, and he’ll finish this year with a lot of things to work on and needing a fifth year.

Right now, Fidler needs to work on his defensive skills and durability. According to reports from Omaha, his defensive performance is well below average. His lack of quickness and movement makes him a liability in one-on-one defense, and while he has the length at 6’1, he needs to move his feet better to take full advantage of them.

Additionally, the Summit League is very different from the Big Ten in terms of toughness. Izzo is a far tougher coach than anyone Fidler has encountered, and he will have to prove he is mentally and physically tough to make it.

Frankie’s shooting percentage as a wing is great. He’s a career threat from distance and can do it elsewhere, too. The only thing that scares me is that he sometimes relies a little too much on getting to the free throw line. Last year he averaged 7.7 free throws per game. Now he’s making 85 percent of them and points are points, but I want him to continue to create and score points from the field and rely less on the referees to put him at the free throw line. Against eight Power Six opponents last year, Fidler’s average dropped from 20.1 to just 10 points per game. His game will have to continue to evolve in the Big Ten.

*Note #1 after the practice game against Madrid All-Stars: Fidler had a brilliant mid-range performance and looked very confident. These opponents are not nearly as physical as the Big Ten teams, so we will learn more as the season progresses.

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