Overview
Jaxon Kohler’s first three seasons at Michigan State were slow, averaging 3.0 points as a freshman before missing the first 13 games of his sophomore year with a foot injury that required surgery before finally seeing his role gradually expand as a junior. As a senior, Kohler broke through, averaging 12.5 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists in approximately 25 minutes per game with 50/39/87 shooting splits across 35 games. He closed the regular season with 23 points, eight rebounds and three assists against Michigan while shooting 10-for-13 from the field, and he helped Michigan State reach the Sweet Sixteen for a second consecutive year.
Analysis
Kohler has excellent hands, polished footwork and a soft touch with either hand around the basket, finishing through contact with hooks, up-and-unders and face-up moves from the midrange. What elevated him as a senior was the three-point shot. After barely attempting threes earlier in his career, Kohler connected at 38.9 percent on more than four attempts per game, an enormous development that changed his NBA calculus. His free-throw shooting at 86.9 percent reinforces the idea that he’s a legitimate floor-spacing big. Kohler is not a dynamic athlete by NBA standards. However, his feel and motor compensate for some of the athletic limitations.
Projection
Kohler’s game draws comparisons to Kevin Love’s ground-bound, skill-based offensive approach and Domantas Sabonis’ post craft, though Kohler is a tier below both as an overall prospect. A concise comparison might be Drew Eubanks or a more offensively skilled Daniel Theis. Kohler’s combination of shooting, post footwork and basketball IQ could earn him a roster spot, and his four-year arc of steady improvement suggests he’ll continue to develop as a professional.
— Profile by RotoWire.com