Report: MSU Basketball Adds Former U.P. H.S. Star Whitens For Next Season

The Iron Mountain Daily News is reporting that former Michigan Class D Player of the Year at Powers North Central HS in the Upper Peninsula, Jason Whitens (guarding former MSU Spartan Kyle Ahrens), will leave Western Michigan and join Michigan State University as a preferred walk-on this coming season.

The 6-4 guard led Powers North Central HS to three straight Class D state titles from 2015-2017, and he finished third in the voting for Michigan Mr. Basketball in 2017.  He entered the NCAA's transfer portal after this season

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Michigan State will have big roster changes this coming season with incoming freshmen Jaden Akins, Max Christie, and 2021 Michigan Mr. Basketball Pierre Brooks.  They'll be joined by Whitens and Northeastern University transfer Tyson Walker.

But the Spartans lose Aaron Henry to the draft, as well as Foster Loyer (transfer to Davidson), Rocket Watts (transfer to Mississippi State), Thomas Kithier (transfer to Valparaiso), and Jack Hoiberg (transfer to Texas-San Antonio).

Whitens will have two years of eligibility at MSU.