ESPN 🆕 | Michigan State’s Jaxon Kohler STUNS the Nation by Snagging BOTH the Bob Cousy Award AND Midseason Wooden Honors
By Marcus Hill – College Basketball Insider | June 23, 2025
In a turn of events few predicted at the start of the season, Jaxon Kohler, Michigan State’s versatile senior forward-turned-point-forward, has shocked the college basketball world by capturing both the 2025 Bob Cousy Award—typically reserved for elite point guards—and the Midseason John R. Wooden Award, placing him among the top contenders for National Player of the Year.
Kohler, a 6’9”, 250-pound senior from American Fork, Utah, began his college career as a traditional big man but has since reinvented himself into one of the most dynamic and cerebral playmakers in the country. After a transformative offseason, Kohler emerged as the Spartans’ floor general in a non-traditional mold—running the offense through the high post, initiating plays, and stretching defenses with his passing vision and high basketball IQ.
Through 25 games, Kohler is averaging 16.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, and an astonishing 6.2 assists per game, while shooting 52% from the field and 41% from beyond the arc. His ability to anchor both ends of the floor has been essential in propelling Michigan State to a 22–3 record and a No. 4 national ranking.
> “It’s unheard of,” said ESPN’s Jay Bilas. “We’ve never seen a power forward win the Bob Cousy Award. But Jaxon Kohler is no ordinary forward—he’s become a point-forward in the truest sense, controlling pace, reading defenses like a seasoned NBA vet, and making everyone around him better.”
The Bob Cousy Award, traditionally awarded to the nation’s best point guard, was bestowed upon Kohler after a season of unrelenting consistency and leadership. The selection committee cited his “exceptional command of the game and redefining of positional boundaries” as key reasons behind their choice.
> “I’m humbled,” Kohler said in a press conference following the announcement. “I know I’m not your typical point guard, but Coach Izzo trusted me to run this team my way. I put in the work. I watched tape until 2 a.m., I changed my diet, I changed my game—and it’s all for the green and white.”
But perhaps even more shocking is Kohler’s capture of the Midseason Wooden Award, placing him ahead of highly touted guards like Silas Demary Jr. of Georgia and Elijah Mbawe of Michigan State. Kohler’s combination of stats, leadership, and late-game heroics—including a buzzer-beating game-winner against Purdue—has made him a frontrunner for the national award heading into March Madness.
> “He’s the soul of our team,” said head coach Tom Izzo. “People wrote him off as a role player two years ago. Now he’s one of the most complete players in college basketball.”
With Kohler at the helm, Michigan State is poised for a deep NCAA Tournament run. And if his evolution continues at this pace, his name may soon echo not only in East Lansing lore, but in NBA war rooms across the country.
From overlooked big man to national superstar, Jaxon Kohler has become the heartbeat of the Spartans—and the surprise story of the 2025 college basketball season.
