Michigan State’s Whitens suffers season-ending injury
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IRON MOUNTAIN -- North Central High School and Western Michigan University alumnus and Powers native Jason Whitens had a setback in his first basketball season as a preferred walk-on at Michigan State University.
In an Oct. 27 exhibition game victory over Division II Ferris State, Whitens injured his knee. The ACL injury was severe enough that Whitens had surgery on Friday and will miss the remainder of the 2021-22 season.
Whitens, who helped lead North Central to three MHSAA Class D state basketball titles and two 8-player football championships, was impressing Hall of Fame head coach Tom Izzo.
In a mid-October press conference, the Iron Mountain native said, "I think that by the time he leaves here, Jason Whitens will be the best scout team player we'll ever have here. He's working so hard in practice, it's really helping the other guys get prepared for our upcoming games. He'll most likely end up on the floor getting game minutes at some point sooner than later in the season."
Whitens said that Izzo and the team will be leaving for New York City on Monday for MSU's season-opening regular season game at Madison Square Garden, versus the preseason No. 3-ranked Kansas Jayhawks tonight on ESPN. Unfortunately, Whitens will be unable to make the trip.
"I am disappointed I can't go with the team for the trip to New York. But I am going to rehab and come back stronger than ever," said Whitens via text message on Saturday morning. "I am going to keep a positive mindset, and get back to work as soon as I am able to."
Whitens said his rehabilitation has a time-frame of six to eight months. It hasn't been determined if he will get a medical redshirt, much like he did after injuring his knee while playing at Western Michigan.
Whitens played in 19 games, starting 18 of them, last season with Western Michigan. He averaged 5.4 points and 3.5 rebounds in 23.3 minutes per game for the Broncos.
Prior to his recent injury, Whitens and his Spartans teammates had a special guest visitor at a practice before playing Ferris State -- Los Angeles Lakers legend and Lansing native Earvin "Magic" Johnson.
Johnson, a two-time inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, spoke to the team and gave anyone who wanted, a chance for a photo opportunity. Whitens took advantage of the photo invitation and briefly talked with Johnson -- who led the Spartans to an NCAA championship in 1979 -- one-on-one.
"It was so cool to talk to him. He's such an inspiring dude," Whitens said.