EAST LANSING, MI — Jaxon Kohler Named Michigan State’s 2025 Player of the Year, Earns National Praise for Leadership and Impact On and Off the Court
By Lauren Matthews | Spartan Sports Daily | June 23, 2025
In a season defined by grit, growth, and grit again, Jaxon Kohler, Michigan State’s junior forward, has been officially recognized as the Spartans’ 2025 Player of the Year, a well-earned honor that punctuates a campaign in which he emerged not only as the team’s most reliable presence on the hardwood, but also its emotional anchor and cultural heartbeat.
Kohler, a 6-foot-9, 250-pound forward from Utah, has long been praised for his footwork, physicality, and basketball IQ, but in 2025, he elevated his game—and his role—in ways few predicted. Averaging 16.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game, Kohler became the Spartans’ most consistent two-way performer, routinely taking on the toughest defensive assignments while anchoring the offense through the high post and low block.
But the numbers tell only part of the story.
When preseason injuries rattled the Spartans’ projected starting lineup, it was Kohler who kept the locker room together. When the team dropped early games to Kansas and Marquette, it was Kohler who called player-only meetings and urged accountability over panic. And when the Spartans stormed back in Big Ten play to secure a 23–8 record and a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament, it was Kohler’s name that echoed loudest in postgame interviews.
> “Jaxon’s not just our best player—he’s our soul,” said head coach Tom Izzo. “He leads with poise, practices like a pro, and holds everyone to the standard that built this program. Every banner hanging in Breslin has a little of his DNA in it now.”
Off the court, Kohler has earned widespread admiration for his community outreach. He launched the “Green Standard” initiative, a mentorship program connecting MSU athletes with underserved Lansing youth. He also maintained a 3.7 GPA in sports journalism and was recently nominated for the Big Ten’s Outstanding Sportsmanship Award.
In recognition of his extraordinary impact, Kohler has been named:
Michigan State Men’s Basketball Player of the Year
Team Captain’s Choice Award Winner (voted by teammates)
All-Big Ten First Team Selection
Finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Top Center in NCAA)
Perhaps most poignantly, Kohler’s legacy is shaping up to be more than just an impressive college career—it’s a blueprint for Spartan greatness.
> “This place changed my life,” Kohler said during the team banquet. “And I just hope, in some small way, I’ve given it something back.
As Kohler weighs his options for the 2025 NBA Draft or a senior return, one thing is certain: his name will be remembered in East Lansing not just for stats or wins, but for leadership that lifted a team and spirit that defined a season.
