With MSU’s 67-63 Sweet 16 loss to UConn on Friday, Kohler, Cooper and Sanders will graduate onto bigger and better things, but their legacy will always be remembered as Spartans who never quit on the green and white. 

"They spent their dues here; they’re four-year guys,” MSU sophomore guard Jeremy Fears Jr. said after Friday’s loss to UConn. "They helped guys get better, helped players that were here for a short period of time. They helped themselves, too, because they got better over the past four years. Just like anybody that sticks around in this program, you get better year after year."

When the three seniors arrived on campus in 2022 as freshmen, MSU was not meeting the program standards. The regular seasons were filled with loss, and tournament play yielded nothing but the same. In 2020-21, MSU finished 15-13 with a First Four loss; in 2021-22, MSU finished 23-13 with a second-round loss. The Spartans were slipping into a state of mediocrity, with success as a bygone era.

The mediocrity continued until the 2024-25 season — two years after Kohler, Cooper and Sanders arrived. Over that four-year span, MSU went 79-54 with a 4-4 NCAA Tournament record. It was the program’s worst four years since the 1994-97 seasons. Despite the lack of success, the three seniors never left, as so many others did. They stayed, endured the grind of hard work and meaningful mistakes, and the result was growth and victory.

In the 2024-25 season, MSU would finish 30-7 with an Elite Eight run. The following year — this year — it would go 27-8 with a Sweet 16 run. This success broke the state of mediocrity and returned the program’s expectations. Leading this were the players that stayed and the seniors that led.

Jaxon Kohler

When arriving at MSU, most could predict Kohler would develop into an efficient basketball player. Coming out of high school, he had the footwork, rebounding abilities and soft touch to convert baskets. He was a four-star recruit and played meaningful minutes during his freshman year and beyond. 

Kohler was good enough to play in nearly any program. He had the size of a forward, the physicality of a center and the scoring abilities of a guard. But instead of fleeing when things remained tough, he stayed the course. By trusting the MSU coaching staff, he developed into a highly efficient post player and MSU’s premier rebounder. He became an efficient offensive and defensive player that MSU could trust and rely upon when it needed to. 

In his career, Kohler would start 69 games while averaging 18.1 minutes, 6.9 points and 5.7 rebounds. During his senior season, he started all 35 games, averaging 27.7 minutes, 12.5 points and 8.9 rebounds. 

"As this comes to a close, I'm just blessed and thankful for every moment I've had with these guys and these coaches," Kohler said. "I'm thankful for everything that's happened."

Carson Cooper

Opposite of Kohler is a player that was not highly touted. A product of Jackson, Michigan, Cooper was an unranked recruit that didn’t get many calls from many programs. Coming out of high school, he was tall and strong but lacked the necessary intangible qualities that are needed to be a starting Big Ten center. MSU head coach Tom Izzo must’ve thought otherwise.

When he arrived at MSU, expectations were low for Cooper, but they grew as his game expanded. Year by year, mistake by mistake, lesson by lesson, Cooper became a player the Spartans could rely on in the paint. Like Kohler, he could have entered the transfer portal at any time —but MSU gave him a chance, and he was determined to see it through. From freshman to senior, Cooper developed from a cumbersome player into a force in the paint, a threat on every level.

In his career, Cooper would start 43 games while averaging 17.2 minutes, 5.4 points and 4.5 rebounds. During his senior season, he started all 35 games, averaging 26.7 minutes, 11.1 points and 7.1 rebounds. 

"It’s been four years of loving what I’m doing everyday, loving the guys and coaches I’m with everyday," Cooper said. "That’s what makes this so special. I’m able to say that I did certain things [with this program]. I’m a four-year player at MSU and have gotten better every year, so it’s special."

Nick Sanders

Sanders was once only known for being Barry Sanders' son. Now he’s only known for being Nick Sanders, an MSU Spartan that developed his game while developing the team. 

The story of Sanders is different from that of Kohler and Cooper. He wasn’t a highly touted four-star recruit, nor was he overlooked. He was a solid varsity high school player who happened to be the son of a Detroit legend. But in the years that followed, his role — and his development — grew.

Sanders spent his four years at MSU on the scout team. In practice, his job was not only to develop his own game, but also to help the Spartans who saw the court more regularly improve theirs. He worked on his craft, helped others with theirs, sat on the bench, cheered on his team — and eventually earned the opportunity to see playing time. When he arrived at MSU, Sanders was a walk-on guard. Because of his work ethic and growth, he will graduate on scholarship.

In his career, Sanders would be featured in 40 total games. He averaged 1.4 minutes while hitting seven field goals and three 3-pointers while scoring 17 points. During his senior season, he saw the court in 14 games, scoring six points while securing one rebound and tallying two assists. 

"If you knew what our scout team had to do, Sanders has been so unbelievable." Izzo said. 

The transfer Spartan seniors

The remaining two MSU seniors are not four-year one-program players. Guards Trey Fort and Denham Wojcik are transfers; they’re one-year Spartans that contributed in every way they could in a season where they were needed and utilized. 

Fort transferred from Samford. A sharp-shooter with pro-level athleticism, he was an offensive weapon that could aid the Spartans when coming off the bench. As the season progressed and the games began to matter more and more, Fort developed into a player that could score in many different ways. During his time at MSU, Fort started six games while averaging 10.2 minutes, 4.2 points and 1.3 rebounds. 

Wojcik transferred from Harvard. Son of MSU assistant coach Doug Wojcik, the backup point guard served as the player that managed the game when Fears sat the bench. During his time in this role, he progressed in his leadership, confidence and became an aggressive defensive player that could be relied upon during late game situations. During his time at MSU, Wojcik averaged 5.5 minutes, 1.4 points, 1.3 assists and 1.2 rebounds.

"I’ve been blessed to have an incredible couple of years with these seniors," Izzo said. "I love those guys just about more than anybody, because anybody can leave now. They stood strong and never did we think about them leaving, and they got better and we got better. They stand for everything I believe in."

Success is a Spartan basketball standard. It was a standard that was almost lost a few years ago. It were these seniors that helped restore what MSU is and can be.