Michigan State University Athletics
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell
Whitens Continues to Pursue His Dream Playing at Michigan State
3/18/2022 6:11:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Sutton Magee
For msuspartans.com
East Lasing, Mich. – Jason Whitens had a tough decision to make coming out of North Central High School in Michigan's Upper Peninsula: either taking a four-year basketball scholarship at Western Michigan or following his childhood fandom and walking on at Michigan State.
Ultimately, the 6-foot-5 guard took the scholarship and spent four years for the Broncos. During Whitens' final season, he averaged 5.4 points per game and 3.5 rebounds per game for WMU. He also shot 47.2% from the field and 88.9% from the free throw line.
"It was in the best interest for me and my family to take the scholarship offer, even though it was always my dream to come here (MSU)," Whitens said. "It was a great four year experience there and I'll always be grateful for that because it prepared me to be here at this time."
Whitens decided to enter the transfer portal following the 2020-21 season, with the lingering hope of playing for Michigan State. The relationship with Coach Tom Izzo and MSU staff remained because they recruited Whitens so well in high school.
The door to play at MSU was still open, so Whitens chose to walk on.
Whitens was finally able to make his childhood dream come true and play for Michigan State. He was supposed to fight for minutes off the bench, thanks to his size and ability to do everything with the basketball.
Whitens' father, Gerald, a basketball coach in his own right, raised his son to be an all-around player.
"I wanted him to be able to handle the ball, to play all five positions," Gerald said. "He was raised to be a point forward. Throughout his young career, he was always that big guard. The influence of Earvin 'Magic' Johnson was everything you wanted to be in a player."
His father raised him to be tough and gritty - just as Izzo wants his teams to play.
"In a lot of ways we always raised Jason to be a Spartan," Gerald said. "And what does it mean to be a Spartan? That means you are going to be tough, you're going to play hard, you are going to do what you are told to do and so we always raised him in that manner."
Just as Whitens was getting settled at his new school and program, an unfortunate circumstance arose. During the waning minutes of Michigan State's win over Ferris State on Oct. 27, Whitens tried to Euro step and landed funny on his knee. It was a move he had done a million times throughout his playing career, but his ACL was torn, and th e season nowover.
"At the time, I knew something was wrong but I got up, tried walking it off and didn't really move as well," Whitens said. "I walked off after the game was done and the doc told me it was probably a torn ACL. They were still waiting on an MRI but they were pretty certain it was. That was a pretty heart wrenching moment. I got to live my dream for around four to five minutes but it's still a learning experience."
After the game ended and diagnosis was made, MSU athletic trainer Nick Richey called Whitens' parents, who were unable to attend the game.
"I would be lying if I said it wasn't an extremely emotional time for our family," Gerald said. "Jason went through a meniscus tear when he was a sophomore at Western, which was difficult enough. He felt he was playing really well and enjoying every moment as a Spartan, and to have this opportunity to compete for playing time. When that knee injury happened it was disappointing and deflating because you're playing out your dream."
While the dream has to be put on hold for a year, it is still very much alive. Whitens is about three months post surgery now, and rehabbing to get back on the court. The biggest help to the recovery process is time spent with a blood flow restriction machine.
"It just kind of takes out the oxygen and helps with muscle growth," Whitens said. "It's the toughest workout, but it's the best because it's going to help me in the long run. So right now I'm still in the early stages, I just hit three months, and hopefully things are getting ready to start ramping up in terms of shooting and running."
Whitens has two years eligibility left, if he wants them, due to the red-shirt year at Western and the COVID-19 bonus year afforded by the NCAA. He is focused on rehab and training right now, with living out his dream to play for MSU still on the horizon.
For msuspartans.com
East Lasing, Mich. – Jason Whitens had a tough decision to make coming out of North Central High School in Michigan's Upper Peninsula: either taking a four-year basketball scholarship at Western Michigan or following his childhood fandom and walking on at Michigan State.
Ultimately, the 6-foot-5 guard took the scholarship and spent four years for the Broncos. During Whitens' final season, he averaged 5.4 points per game and 3.5 rebounds per game for WMU. He also shot 47.2% from the field and 88.9% from the free throw line.
"It was in the best interest for me and my family to take the scholarship offer, even though it was always my dream to come here (MSU)," Whitens said. "It was a great four year experience there and I'll always be grateful for that because it prepared me to be here at this time."
Whitens decided to enter the transfer portal following the 2020-21 season, with the lingering hope of playing for Michigan State. The relationship with Coach Tom Izzo and MSU staff remained because they recruited Whitens so well in high school.
The door to play at MSU was still open, so Whitens chose to walk on.
Whitens was finally able to make his childhood dream come true and play for Michigan State. He was supposed to fight for minutes off the bench, thanks to his size and ability to do everything with the basketball.
Whitens' father, Gerald, a basketball coach in his own right, raised his son to be an all-around player.
"I wanted him to be able to handle the ball, to play all five positions," Gerald said. "He was raised to be a point forward. Throughout his young career, he was always that big guard. The influence of Earvin 'Magic' Johnson was everything you wanted to be in a player."
His father raised him to be tough and gritty - just as Izzo wants his teams to play.
"In a lot of ways we always raised Jason to be a Spartan," Gerald said. "And what does it mean to be a Spartan? That means you are going to be tough, you're going to play hard, you are going to do what you are told to do and so we always raised him in that manner."
Just as Whitens was getting settled at his new school and program, an unfortunate circumstance arose. During the waning minutes of Michigan State's win over Ferris State on Oct. 27, Whitens tried to Euro step and landed funny on his knee. It was a move he had done a million times throughout his playing career, but his ACL was torn, and th e season nowover.
"At the time, I knew something was wrong but I got up, tried walking it off and didn't really move as well," Whitens said. "I walked off after the game was done and the doc told me it was probably a torn ACL. They were still waiting on an MRI but they were pretty certain it was. That was a pretty heart wrenching moment. I got to live my dream for around four to five minutes but it's still a learning experience."
After the game ended and diagnosis was made, MSU athletic trainer Nick Richey called Whitens' parents, who were unable to attend the game.
"I would be lying if I said it wasn't an extremely emotional time for our family," Gerald said. "Jason went through a meniscus tear when he was a sophomore at Western, which was difficult enough. He felt he was playing really well and enjoying every moment as a Spartan, and to have this opportunity to compete for playing time. When that knee injury happened it was disappointing and deflating because you're playing out your dream."
While the dream has to be put on hold for a year, it is still very much alive. Whitens is about three months post surgery now, and rehabbing to get back on the court. The biggest help to the recovery process is time spent with a blood flow restriction machine.
"It just kind of takes out the oxygen and helps with muscle growth," Whitens said. "It's the toughest workout, but it's the best because it's going to help me in the long run. So right now I'm still in the early stages, I just hit three months, and hopefully things are getting ready to start ramping up in terms of shooting and running."
Whitens has two years eligibility left, if he wants them, due to the red-shirt year at Western and the COVID-19 bonus year afforded by the NCAA. He is focused on rehab and training right now, with living out his dream to play for MSU still on the horizon.
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