Michigan State University basketball star expected to be named to All-Big Ten first team

The Michigan State basketball team is in desperate need of a good season this year. It’s been far too long since we’ve seen the program perform at the level expected, and today it looks like this year’s team may be trending in that direction.

The team as a whole seems pretty complete to me. Outside shooters, top-notch guard play, and the potential for solid post play are all there. The only unknown Michigan State will need this year, however, is an alpha. Someone who can take control of any game and show up every night.

Michigan State has had similar players in the past, but not at an All-Big Ten level. In fact, Michigan State hasn’t had a player on the All-Big Ten first team since Cassius Winston in 2020.

According to one person, that will change this season.

Carter Elliot of Sleepers Media announced his preseason selections for the All-Big Ten first team and selected Frankie Fidler as one of his five candidates.

Fidler definitely has the makings of a first-team All-Big Ten player, as he showed last season in Omaha when he averaged over 20 points per game. But that was in a much weaker league, and it will be a much bigger challenge in the Big Ten.

Still, I believe he has the potential to do so. However, I also believe there is another Spartan more deserving of that honor than Fidler.

My pick for the first team is Jaden Akins. He has the most experience on the team and knows how to play through a full Big Ten season, something Fidler doesn’t yet know.

I also think we haven’t seen Akins’ full potential yet because he’s always had to play behind guys like Tyson Walker and AJ Hoggard. Now that they’re gone, it’s his team and I think he’ll have many more opportunities to flourish on offense.

Last season, Akins averaged just over 10 points per game. He has also shown in the past that he can make 40 percent of his three-point shots, so if he can shoot at that rate again this season and get more opportunities on offense, Akins could realistically average 17-18 points per game, which could be good enough to make the first team.

Another player I could see making the first team is Xavier Booker. This is far less likely than Akins and Fidler, but if Booker puts all of his skills together, he could easily be one of the best players in the conference.

Time will tell if a Michigan State player makes the jump, but if they want to have the season we all hope for, someone will probably have to be good enough to make the first team.