Michigan State University Athletics
Kyle Ahrens: Small Town Lessons Lead To Success
11/20/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Ryan Smith, MSU Athletic Communications Staff Assistant
The village of Versailles, Ohio, is a small farm town of less than 3,000 people located just 30 miles east of the Ohio-Indiana border. Before he could even dream of playing basketball at Michigan State, it was here that the values of family and toughness were instilled in Kyle Ahrens, something that would lead him to stepping foot on the Breslin Center court in front of nearly 15,000 fans each night.
Head coach Tom Izzo has repeatedly described the sophomore as having a ‘bulldog mentality,' a quality nurtured in Ahrens throughout his childhood.
"Everyone in our small town was a farmer, so they were getting up early and milking at 4 am," said Ahrens. "They would work and go to school and then work after school. So, they are just nonstop working, working, working. When I played sports with my friends, we nonstop went at it, so they built that mentality into me."
Growing up with five siblings, including two older brothers, an older sister and twin younger brothers, there was always someone to play basketball with.
"We had a loft with a staircase and we would duct tape the hoop up there and slide the couches out of the way and play basketball on the mini hoop and it was so much fun," said Ahrens. "There were times we would break things and try to hide it and then two weeks later my mom would ask why it was broken and we'd all blame it on someone else."
When it wasn't the mini hoop inside, you could find Ahrens shooting on the hoop outside in the yard. Once on a slab of rocks, the old rim and weathered backboard fixed to a pole is where Ahrens developed his skills and even more importantly, his love for the game.
Like all kids, Ahrens fantasized about his future in basketball in those quiet moments on the court.
"Winning that National Championship is a lifetime goal. It always has been since I was a kid," said Ahrens. "My sister played division three college basketball and we would always go outside and play H-O-R-S-E. When she first committed to play at Wilmington, we would talk about the NCAA Tournament and what it would be like to go to it and win it all and that I would be there to watch it. I will never forget that."
Ahrens' athletic ability was always apparent to those who watched him play sports, but he provided an eye-opening moment when he threw down his first dunk during a practice in eighth grade, something his coach is still amazed by today. His athletic ability was highlighted yet again during his senior year of high school after his dunk over an opposing player in the state semifinals was featured as the number two play on ESPN SportsCenter's Top 10 plays.
As his high school days played out, more people started to take notice of the small-town kid from Ohio.
"It all started after my sophomore year," said Ahrens about the recruiting process. "That is when coach Garland first contacted me. I was in Florida with my family on vacation and we were all excited about that because anytime you get a call from a big-time school like Michigan State - that is something that you feel good about."
With a chance to play at the next level within reach, Ahrens continued to put in the hard work and long hours, and squeezed in the extra time wherever he could find it. Sometimes, he even had to go as far as sneaking into school in the morning with the lunch ladies so he could get his workout in.
"We got a brand new K-12 school - that is how small our town is," said Ahrens. "Everyone is in this high school and we only had two gyms and then we had an old, old gym that was run down. With the new gym, my Dad would have to call ahead to make sure there was a time for me to work out. Sometimes, it would be 6 in the morning and other times it would be 8 at night. Since we had a new gym, everyone was in there all year round to practice."
The tough workouts and daily grind might be overwhelming and a daunting task for someone to take on alone, but Ahrens had as good of a support system you can ask for in his family. His dad, an assistant coach at the high school, would put together his workout plan the night before. When he would wake up at 5 am, his mom would have breakfast made and when it was time to go workout, his two younger brothers were right there with him.
Because family and a strong support system played such a vital role in his success, those qualities were high on the list when assessing which school he would go to.
"My family is always there for me and that is why I love it here at MSU," said Ahrens. "All of the support you get here, everyone is behind your back and helping you. That is why I feel like this place is home, because that support system is very important."
With offers from Dayton and Xavier in addition to MSU, Ahrens had to decide between making the leap to a power six conference and staying close to home.
"I felt like I could do it," said Ahrens regarding his decision to choose MSU over going to a smaller school. "My Mom and my Dad always built me and my siblings into people that, if you put your mind to something, go get it, especially in school or athletics."
The summer after his junior year of high school, Ahrens stepped on campus in East Lansing for the first time and it didn't take long for him to make up his mind.
"The first time I got here was a fall day," said Ahrens. "My mom and my dad both came and we parked outside of Breslin and it was a nice sunny day and I walked out and it felt like home. My mom actually started tearing up when we went to watch practice that day, because she knew that I was in love with the place and the family atmosphere here you can't beat, so that is what really led me here."
From the first practice his freshman year, it was obvious to Ahrens that he ended up in the perfect place for him.
"That first day of practice was so energetic. Everyone was into it and yelling. Right then and there I knew that is why I wanted to be here. All of the energy that everyone brought was just phenomenal. It made you want to be there. Toughness is what everyone stresses and you can see that in practice. You have to have toughness to go through everything."
Now with a year at Michigan State under his belt, he is prepared to take on a larger role this season with confidence. After early-season injuries in the front court, Ahrens is being asked to move from a guard to more of a forward-oriented role, a task he will no doubt approach with that bulldog mentality.
"I'm doing whatever the team is asking of me. I am always going to do my best and step up and work my hardest to step up, but when I make a mistake, Kenny Goins, Matt Van Dyk, Ben Carter and Gavin Schilling are on the side and letting me know what I did and helping me out. They are just as important in this as me. We are all in this together.
"I'm going to continue working as hard as I can in whatever I do. I don't show any emotion and just get it done, no matter what it is. Whatever coach asks me to do, I will do."
