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Jaden Akins, A.J. Hoggard make decisions on future in college basketball
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Jaden Akins and AJ Hoggard both entered their names into the NBA Draft shortly following the end of the Spartans’ season, a common tactic for players to keep their options open. With the deadline to decide on a NBA career or returning to college, Akins and Hoggard each made their decisions Wednesday morning.
The pair will run it back for another year in East Lansing, per Akins’ Twitter page and a post by the Spartans’ official account:
East Lansing 📍
— Jaden Akins (@JadenAkins3) May 31, 2023
Ready to get back to work. pic.twitter.com/k3mL1u3eP9
— Michigan State Men’s Basketball (@MSU_Basketball) May 31, 2023
Obviously, this is an enormous development for the Spartans. Both were starters for MSU in 2022 and will increase Michigan State’s likelihood of being a preseason top 10 team come next season.
Akins averaged 9.8 points per game, recovering from an injury suffered early in the season. He is a deadly 3-point shooter and could be one of MSU’s biggest offensive threats in 2023-24 if his postseason run from last season is any indicator.
Hoggard averaged 12.9 points and 5.9 assists per game as the team’s starting point guard. He and Akins will rejoin fellow returner Tyson Walker, solidifying one of the top returning backcourts in the B1G, if not the country.
Ethan Stone was an editor for his student newspaper at the University of Tennessee and is now a News Manager for Saturday Tradition.