While Michigan State was shut out of the 2026 NBA Draft in June, there were still several Spartans competing at NBA Summer League in Las Vegas over the past two weeks.
Both of MSU's departed senior starters, center Carson Cooper and forward Jaxon Kohler, were there after first competing in the Utah Summer League site, as were a handful of their former teammates, including guards Tre Holloman and AJ Hoggard, who began their careers at MSU before finishing elsewhere.
The trip to Las Vegas served as a de facto reunion for the 2025 Big Ten championship team that advanced to the Elite Eight, with Jase Richardson, Jaden Akins and Frankie Fidler all in the city. Richardson, the 25th overall pick in 2025, was MSU's last draftee, but the other Spartans were angling for their own deals in the world's best hoops league.
Below is a recap of how each former MSU player did in the desert:
**CARSON COOPER (Memphis Grizzlies)**
6 games | 15.4 MPG, 5.3 PPG, 1.8 FGM, 3.5 FGA, 52.4 FG%, 0.0 3PM, 0.2 3PA, 0.0 3P%, 1.0 FTM, 1.7 FTA, 60.0 FT%, 1.2 OREB, 3.0 DREB, 4.2 RPG, 0.3 APG, 1.2 TOV, 0.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 2.2 PF, -3 +/-
Cooper performed well throughout both Summer League sites he played at with the Grizzlies. Memphis was the first franchise former MSU big men Jaren Jackson Jr. and Xavier Tillman called home, and Cooper's promising showings could very well lead to a longer look by the Grizzlies.
**JAXON KOHLER (Utah Jazz)**
2 GAMES | 11.7 MPG, 5.5 PPG, 1.5 FGM, 3.0 FGA, 50.0 FG%, 0.5 3PM, 0.5 3PA, 100 3P%, 1.0 FTM, 1.0 FTA, 100 FT%, 0.5 OREB, 2.0 DREB, 2.5 RPG, 0.0 APG, 0.0 TOV, 0.0 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 1.0 PF, 6 +/-
Picked up by his hometown Jazz, Kohler did what he could in limited opportunities and had some strong moments. The next step will be whether he opts to stick around, likely in the G League, and try to claw his way to an NBA gig, or sign a deal with an international club.
**JASE RICHARDSON (Orlando Magic)**
3 games | 30.1 MPG, 18.3 PPG, 6.7 FGM, 12.3 FGA, 54.1 FG%, 2.3 3PM, 4.7 3PA, 50.0 3P%, 1.7 FTM, 1.7 FTA, 100 FT%, 1.0 OREB, 2.7 DREB, 3.7 RPG, 4.7 APG, 2.3 TOV, 1.7 SPG, 0.0 BPG, 2.7 PF, 2 +/-
Heading into his second professional season, Richardson had the look of a player ready to leave Summer League behind for good. His numbers reflect someone who probably played his final July game in Vegas, as he looks to make a bigger impact for the Magic after the team's playoff run a year ago.
**FRANKIE FIDLER (Portland Trail Blazers)**
5 games | 21.9 MPG, 9.8 PPG, 2.8 FGM, 9.4 FGA, 29.8 FG%, 1.0 3PM, 4.0 3PA, 25.0 3P%, 1.8 FTM, 2.2 FTA, 81.8 FT%, 1.2 OREB, 2.8 DREB, 4.0 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.6 TOV, 0.8 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 2.0 PF, 1 +/-
Fidler was invited to Summer League last year, but never got off the bench. This summer was a different story, lacing up for the Trail Blazers after a strong professional debut in Latvia last season.
**JADEN AKINS (New York Knicks)**
3 games | 23.6 MPG, 11.3 PPG, 4.3 FGM, 12.0 FGA, 36.1 FG%, 1.3 3PM, 5.3 3PA, 25.0 3P%, 0.7 FTM, 0.7 FTA, 100 FT%, 0.0 OREB, 1.3 DREB, 1.3 RPG, 2.0 APG, 2.7 TOV, 0.7 SPG, 0.0 BPG, 4.3 PF, -13+/-
Akins opted to stay in the U.S. after his MSU career ended, and it paid off in the form of a G League All-Star year with the Motor City Cruise. He got significant playing time with the NBA champion Knicks in Las Vegas as he tries to plot out the next step of his pro journey, whether it's still in the NBA or abroad.
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