With Akins and Hoggard back, Michigan State could be in the banner-hanging business again

Veteran Michigan State basketball beat writer Paul Konyndyk examines what it means for Tom Izzo's program for starting guards Jaden Akins and AJ Hoggard to pull their names out of the 2023 NBA Draft and return to Michigan State. With Akins and Hoggard both coming back along with Tyson Walker and Malik Hall, Michigan State has a proven nucleus of veteran playmakers that should position the Spartans to compete for a Big Ten championship as well as potential Final Four run. The return of Akins and Hoggard also signifies the strength of the culture at Michigan State program. At a time when loyalty means very little in college athletics, in returning to the Spartans Akins and Hoggard are showing the same type of faith in Tom Izzo's program that their Hall of Fame coach placed in them a year ago when he bucked conventional wisdom in opting to rely on player development to address personnel need rather than the NCAA transfer portal.