“Growth comes with time and my coaches tell me a number of different things both on the court and off the court that have helped me become a better person,” Appling said. “I’ve got to give all the credit to my coaches. They’re the ones that helped me not only become a better player, but a better person.”

Appling is reaching career highs in all major categories, and his 16.4 points per game is good for eighth-best in the Big Ten. He also has the second-best assist-to-turnover ratio in the conference.

The Detroit native fought through an injury after a nasty fall against North Carolina and not starting a game in green and white for the first time since the his freshman year.

When head coach Tom Izzo looks at his point guard, he sees a player that can propel his game higher than it already is.

“He has dreams of where he wants to get, and to do that, there’s a certain road you’ve got to go down, and it’s understanding the game better,” Izzo said.

In a time in college basketball when “diaper dandies” are making headlines, it has become out of the ordinary for players to have an impact for four years as much as Appling has.

His late growth is not only boosting his stats, but it’s benefiting his teammates as well.

Junior guard Travis Trice missed three games this season, but Appling’s play has boosted his.

Trice said Appling’s decision-making is much improved from a season ago, which allows everybody on the team to excel.

Although Appling is becoming a master on the court, it might be an accomplishment off the court that he is most proud of.

Both Appling and Izzo can delight in the sociology degree the senior is scheduled to receive in May.

Appling is one class and an elective away from becoming the first in his family to receive a college diploma, an achievement he said means more to him now than at the start of college.

“When I first stepped on the campus here at MSU, (a degree) was so farfetched at times, and I really couldn’t see that far down the line,” he said.

After the Minnesota game, Izzo even assured Appling’s mom that her son is on track to get his degree.

Appling chiseled out his game by watching the likes of former Spartans Mateen Cleaves, Kalin Lucas and Travis Walton, among others.

Although he watches certain players, it’s clear who he wants to be.

“Keith Appling — hey, he deserved to be down a little bit,” Izzo said. “He didn’t do the things he needed to do early on, but …that kid has really, really, really upgraded.”