{{Short description|American basketball player (born 1996)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox basketball biography | name = Kenny Goins | image = Kenny Goins (cropped).jpg | caption = Goins with Trapani in February 2020 | position = Power forward | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 7 | weight_lbs = 230 | league = PLK | team = Energa Trefl Sopot | number = 33 | nationality = American | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|9|11}} | birth_place = Troy, Michigan | high_school = Warren Mott<br>(Warren, Michigan) | college = Michigan State (2015–2019) | draft_year = 2019 | career_start = 2019 | years1 = 2019–2020 | team1 = Trapani | years2 = 2020–2021 | team2 = Kolossos Rodou | years3 = 2021 | team3 = Lavrio | years4 = 2021–2022 | team4 = Atomerőmű SE | years5 = 2023 | team5 = Correbasket UAT | years6 = 2023–2024 | team6 = Limoges CSP | years7 = 2025 | team7 = Manawatu Jets | years8 = 2025–present | team8 = Trefl Sopot | highlights = * Polish Cup winner (2026) | medal_templates = }} '''Kenny Goins''' (born September 11, 1996) is an American professional basketball player for Trefl Sopot of the Polish Basketball League (PLK). He played college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans.
==High school career== Goins played basketball for Warren Mott High School in Warren, Michigan. As a senior, he averaged 21.1 points, 14.8 rebounds and 4.8 blocks per game.<ref name="sprague">{{cite web |last1=Sprague |first1=Hanna |title=Kenny Goins: Strength In Family |url=https://msuspartans.com/news/2014/12/19/Kenny_Goins_Strength_In_Family.aspx |publisher=Michigan State University Athletics |accessdate=August 23, 2020 |date=December 19, 2014}}</ref> Goins led his team to the Class A state quarterfinals and earned First Team All-State honors from the Associated Press.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Austin |first1=Kyle |title=Report: Warren Mott's Kenny Goins to join Michigan State as preferred walk-on |url=https://www.mlive.com/spartans/2014/04/report_warren_motts_kenny_goin.html |website=MLive |accessdate=August 23, 2020 |date=April 14, 2014}}</ref> He played football for Mott as a tight end and had originally intended to play football in college, rather than basketball.<ref name="wheeler">{{cite web |last1=Wheeler |first1=Grace |title=Kenny Goins: Living A Dream |url=https://msuspartans.com/news/2016/12/30/Kenny_Goins_Living_A_Dream.aspx |publisher=Michigan State University Athletics |accessdate=August 23, 2020 |date=December 30, 2016}}</ref>
==College career== Goins turned down multiple NCAA Division I basketball scholarship offers to play for Michigan State as a walk-on, despite the financial burden, in his freshman season.<ref name="quinn">{{cite web |last1=Quinn |first1=Brendan |title=Forever in debt: The improbable, impossible story of Kenny Goins |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/899544/2019/04/01/forever-in-debt-the-improbable-impossible-story-of-kenny-goins/ |website=The Athletic |access-date=August 23, 2020 |date=April 1, 2019}}</ref> His family took out a loan of $17,000.<ref name="diamond">{{cite web |last1=Diamond |first1=Jared |title=The Final Four Star Who Is Also Paying Off His Student Loans |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-final-four-star-who-is-also-paying-off-his-student-loans-11554465646 |website=The Wall Street Journal |accessdate=August 23, 2020 |date=April 5, 2019}}</ref> Goins redshirted his first year with the team and earned a scholarship in his following season.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Rollins |first1=Khadrice |title=Elite Eight Hero Kenny Goins Still Paying Back Loan for Freshman Year at Michigan State |url=https://www.si.com/college/2019/04/02/kenny-goins-family-paying-17000-loan-michigan-state |magazine=Sports Illustrated |accessdate=August 23, 2020 |date=April 2, 2019}}</ref> He was sidelined for six weeks as a freshman after undergoing surgery to repair a sports hernia.<ref>{{cite web |title=Michigan State's Kenny Goins has sports hernia surgery |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/13782274/michigan-state-spartans-forward-kenny-goins-sports-hernia-surgery |website=ESPN |publisher=Associated Press |accessdate=August 23, 2020 |date=September 30, 2015}}</ref> Goins posted 3.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game as a sophomore and made 14 starts.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Solari |first1=Chris |title=MSU's Kenny Goins adds range in quest for more playing time |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2017/06/30/michigan-state-basketball-kenny-goins/442407001/ |accessdate=August 23, 2020 |work=Detroit Free Press |date=June 30, 2017}}</ref> As a junior, Goins averaged 2.1 points and 2.8 rebounds per game, shooting 45.8 percent from the field.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Austin |first1=Kyle |title=Kenny Goins could be in for bigger role as Michigan State frontcourt clears out |url=https://www.mlive.com/spartans/2018/05/kenny_goins_could_be_in_for_bi.html |accessdate=August 23, 2020 |work=MLive |date=January 30, 2019}}</ref> A reserve for his first three years, Goins became a regular member of the starting lineup in his senior season.<ref name="austin">{{cite web |last1=Austin |first1=Kyle |title=Kenny Goins walked on, fought through injuries and became an unlikely starter for MSU |url=https://www.mlive.com/spartans/2018/12/kenny-goins-walked-on-fought-through-injuries-and-became-an-unlikely-starter-for-msu.html |website=MLive |accessdate=August 23, 2020 |date=December 7, 2018}}</ref> In his senior season debut, Goins scored a then-career-high 17 points and led the Spartans with 11 rebounds against top-ranked Kansas.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2018/11/07/michigan-state-basketball-kenny-goins-kansas/1917364002/|title=MSU basketball's Kenny Goins scores career high to stay close vs. Kansas|work=Detroit Free Press|date=November 7, 2018|access-date=August 23, 2020|language=en}}</ref> On November 27, 2018, he grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds in an 82–78 overtime loss to Louisville.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hall |first1=Erik |title=Michigan State vs. Louisville basketball: Kenny Goins with 17 rebounds, 0 points, 1 eye |url=https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/sports/2018/11/27/msu-louisville-basketball-kenny-goins-rebounds-eye-injury/2104448002/ |website=Lansing State Journal |accessdate=August 23, 2020 |date=November 27, 2018}}</ref> On March 5, 2019, Goins scored a career-high 24 points in a 91–76 win over Nebraska.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kenny Goins scores career-high 24 as Michigan State tops Nebraska 91-76 |url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/other/kenny-goins-scores-career-high-24-as-michigan-state-tops-nebraska-91-76 |website=Fox Sports |publisher=Associated Press |accessdate=August 23, 2020 |date=March 6, 2019}}</ref> On March 31, he made a go-ahead three-pointer with 34.5 seconds left in an Elite Eight victory over first-seeded Duke at the NCAA tournament.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hall |first1=Erik |title=Duke vs. MSU basketball: See Kenny Goins' 3-point shot to send MSU to the Final Four |url=https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/sports/2019/03/31/duke-msu-basketball-see-kenny-goins-3-point-shot-final-four/3327738002/ |website=Lansing State Journal |accessdate=August 23, 2020 |date=March 31, 2019}}</ref> As a senior, Goins averaged 7.9 points and a team-high 8.9 rebounds per game.<ref name=brooks>{{cite web |last1=Brooks |first1=Stephen |title=MSU basketball: Kenny Goins signs with Italian pro team |url=https://247sports.com/college/michigan-state/Article/MSU-basketball-Kenny-Goins-signs-Italy-pro-team-Pallacanestro-Trapani-133770687/ |publisher=247Sports.com |accessdate=August 23, 2020 |date=July 18, 2019}}</ref> He was an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention selection.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Solari |first1=Chris |title=Michigan State basketball's Kenny Goins joining Denver Nuggets for Summer League |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2019/06/22/michigan-state-basketball-kenny-goins-denver-nuggets-nba-summer-league/1535416001/ |website=Detroit Free Press |accessdate=August 23, 2020 |date=June 22, 2019}}</ref>
==Professional career== After going undrafted in the 2019 NBA draft, Goins joined the Denver Nuggets for 2019 NBA Summer League.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brewster |first1=Andrew |title=Kenny Goins finally gets minutes with Denver Summer League team, plays well |url=https://spartanswire.usatoday.com/2019/07/14/kenny-goins-finally-gets-minutes-with-denver-summer-league-team-plays-well/ |publisher=Spartans Wire |accessdate=August 23, 2020 |date=July 14, 2019}}</ref> On July 18, 2019, he signed his first professional contract with Pallacanestro Trapani of the Serie A2 Basket.<ref name=brooks/> In 24 games, he averaged 11.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.<ref name=eurobasket>{{cite web |title=Kenny Goins, Basketball Player, News, Stats - Eurobasket |url=https://basketball.eurobasket.com/player/Kenny-Goins/370776 |website=Eurobasket LLC |access-date=17 December 2024 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
On August 22, 2020, Goins signed with Kolossos Rodou of the Greek Basket League.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Skerletic |first1=Dario |title=Kolossos Rhodes ink Kenny Goins |work=Sportando |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/kolossos-rhodes-ink-kenny-goins/ |accessdate=August 23, 2020 |date=August 22, 2020}}</ref> In 16 games, he averaged 9.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.<ref name="eurobasket" />
On July 1, 2021, Goins signed with Greek club Lavrio.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lavrio sign a second USA player |url=https://www.eurobasket.com/Greece/news/691775/Lavrio-sign-a-second-USA-player |website=Eurobasket |access-date=July 1, 2021 |date=July 1, 2021}}</ref> He averaged 4.6 points and 3.9 rebounds in eight league games, and 4.5 points and 5.0 rebounds in four BCL games.<ref name="eurobasket" /> On December 4, 2021, he signed with Atomerőmű SE of the Hungarian Nemzeti Bajnokság I/A.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gabor |first1=Winter |title=Kenny Goins (ex Lavrio) joins Atomeromu |url=https://www.eurobasket.com/Greece/news/719401/Kenny-Goins-(ex-Lavrio)-joins-Atomeromu |website=Eurobasket |access-date=December 4, 2021 |date=December 4, 2021}}</ref> In 18 games, he averaged 8.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game.<ref name="eurobasket" />
In August 2023, Goins joined Correbasket UAT of the Mexican LNBP.<ref name="eurobasket" /> In 14 games, he averaged 5.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.<ref name="eurobasket" />
On November 8, 2023, Goins signed with Limoges CSP of the LNB Pro A.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.limogescsp.com/actualites-details/le-limoges-csp-a-son-nouveau-poste-4.html|title=Le Limoges CSP A Son Nouveau Poste 4|last=|first=|date=November 8, 2023|website=limogescsp.com|publisher=|language=fr|access-date=January 11, 2024}}</ref> In 22 games, he averaged 3.6 points and 2.8 rebounds per game.<ref name="eurobasket" />
In December 2024, Goins signed with the Manawatu Jets of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL) for the 2025 season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Player Announcement - KG |url=https://www.thejets.co.nz/player-announcement-kg |access-date=17 December 2024 |work=Property Brokers Manawatu Jets |date=17 December 2024 |language=en-NZ}}</ref>
On August 15, 2025, he signed with Trefl Sopot of the Polish Basketball League (PLK).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://treflsopot.pl/posts/kenny-goins-silnym-skrzydowym-trefla-sopot/2132|title=Kenny Goins silnym skrzydłowym Trefla Sopot|last=|first=|date=August 15, 2025|website=treflsopot.pl|publisher=|language=pl|access-date=August 27, 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://msuspartans.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/kenny-goins/8795 Michigan State Spartans bio]
{{Trefl Sopot current roster}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Goins, Kenny}} Category:1996 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:American expatriate basketball people in France Category:American expatriate basketball people in Greece Category:American expatriate basketball people in Hungary Category:American expatriate basketball people in Italy Category:American expatriate basketball people in Mexico Category:American expatriate basketball people in New Zealand Category:American expatriate basketball people in Poland Category:American men's basketball players Category:Basketball players from Oakland County, Michigan Category:Kolossos Rodou B.C. players Category:Lavrio B.C. players Category:Limoges CSP players Category:Manawatu Jets players Category:Michigan State Spartans men's basketball players Category:Pallacanestro Trapani players Category:Power forwards Category:Sportspeople from Troy, Michigan Category:Trefl Sopot players