Michigan State University Athletics
Spartan Profile: Kenny Goins
1/20/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Kellie Van Maele, MSU Athletic Communications
Growing up surrounded by green and white, redshirt freshman Kenny Goins has an unending amount of pride for Michigan State.
Enough pride, that is, to give up several scholarship offers at other Division I universities, to begin his Spartan journey as a walk-on and to fight to make his dream a reality.
The Troy, Michigan native accepted the offer to be a walk-on for Michigan State because that meant he was one step closer to making a big dream come true.
"I could have gone to other schools, but I took the chance and decided to follow my dream of playing ball at Michigan State," Goins said. "Now being here means the world to me. It's an extra motivation to get up every morning and better myself every day."
During the 2014-15 season, Goins worked tirelessly to better the team in practice. He also used his time on the sideline to become more comfortable with Tom Izzo's program.
"I know that I'm here to make the team better," Goins said. "It can get tough sometimes, but I have to fulfill my role just like all of the other guys on the team are doing. My role is to be here to make the team better."
This mentality comes from playing for his dad, Ken, from a young age. He began playing basketball for his church league at 5-years-old, where is dad was the coach. As his dedication to the sport grew, his dad continually held him to a higher standard.
The 6-foot-6 forward credits his dad for the accomplishments he has achieved in basketball.
"My dad was really the one that pushed me," Goins said. "He always told me that if I wanted to play basketball at the next level, he would help me get there. I really respected him because he always checked in to make sure that playing basketball was what I wanted to do, but my response was always the same. I wanted to make it to the next level. I wanted to be held to a higher standard. He really has been my support since day one for basketball, no doubt. I would definitely say that he is the root of my love for basketball."
Goins credits his family for getting him to Michigan State and in return, they have been given the opportunity to watch his dream become a reality at the Breslin Center.
Beginning with the Spartans' game against Florida Atlantic on Nov. 13, Goins has played in every contest.
"My family is at every game," Goins said. "Even weekday games when my dad has to get up at 5 a.m. the next morning, he still comes. It really means a lot after the game to be able to see my parents' faces, especially when I can't make it home as much as I would want. You get a little homesick, so when they come to games it really hits home."
This season, Goins was awarded the opportunity to play on scholarship, which has "helped him a lot" on and off of the court.
With that opportunity, however, Goins has had a bigger desire to prove himself on the court. On Dec. 2 when the Spartans took on Louisville, he was able to do so.
During the Big Ten/ACC challenge against the Cardinals, Goins had a standout performance with 13 rebounds in 18 minutes, marking the most rebounds by any Spartan this season.
"Honestly if you told me that I was going to play any minutes against Louisville I think I would have laughed," Goins said. "But that's just how my experience here has been. I went into that game thinking it was just like every other game I had played. I was just thinking about my assignments in the game and that was the only thing going through my head â€"what I had to do to get the job done. I was not worried about anything but getting the W at the end."
Knowing that Izzo and the coaching staff trust Goins' ability to play gives him the confidence he needs to continue to improve the team and prove himself throughout the rest of the season.
"I stay humble and always remember that I was brought here to make the team better," Goins said. "Last season, (senior walk-on) Keenan (Wetzel) really instilled that in me. All of the walk-ons, we really stick together, whether that is obvious or not. We just have that bond. We pick each other up, help each other and we're there for each other."
Goins, the 2014 Macomb County Player of the Year, has used his experience from last season to help his teammates this year, specifically walk-on freshman guard Conner George.
"I know what it's like to be in his shoes," Goins said. "The nerves, the wondering about playing or redshirting, the excitement â€" all of that. I feel like it's my role because walkons definitely have a different position on the team, but look how far it has brought me."
As Goins continues to make his dream a reality on the court, he continues to impress his family, Izzo and his teammates. From a walk-on to a scholarship player, Goins has achieved a lot, but one thing is for sure â€" his pride in Michigan State has never wavered.
"It's pride for my family and pride for myself," Goins said. "It's pride for everyone and everything that has to do with Michigan State. It's all about representing my school as a whole. From my family to the Spartan family, it's all based on pride."
