The Michigan State men’s basketball team might have had their season end unceremoniously getting popped by the Kansas Jayhawks in the round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament, but the future of Spartans basketball looks eminently bright if what Adrian Wojnarowski’s The Vertical is reporting is true.
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Sources have told The Vertical that Spartans star and projected NBA lottery pick Miles Bridges is “leaning heavily toward returning to East Lansing for his sophomore year.
Sources: Michigan State's Miles Bridges cancelled agent meetings, leaning heavily toward returning for sophomore year. Lottery pick talent.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 12, 2017
Bridges is expected to finalize decision after meeting with Tom Izzo, sources tell @TheVertical. https://t.co/LsRTlP7Ff0
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 12, 2017
Bridges was the lone bright spot for a Spartans team that struggled to even make the field of 68 last year.
Along with contributing 17 points, eight rebounds, and two assists a night, Bridges also dazzled crowds with his spectacular athleticism and never ending quest to get on the highlight reel.
https://twitter.com/BarstoolMSU/status/840304932519579648
Miles Bridges first highlight dunk in college: https://t.co/8LKxJp5XGy
— Noted Ice Spice Fan (@BreslinBirds) January 17, 2017
Bridges is a near-lock to be a lottery pick (selected in the first 15 picks) in the upcoming NBA Draft if he decides to bolt MSU after on year, with some mocks having him going in the top 10.
The only knock on Bridges at this point is that he does not have a consistent enough outside jumper to pose a threat beyond the paint. While that may sound silly considering Bridges did shoot 39% from beyond the arc, college and the NBA are two completely different games, and to be fair to Bridges, he was not only the Spartans best player throughout the course of the year, a lot of the time he was their best shooter as well.
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The one interesting monkey-wrench that could be thrown in here is that Bridges is not expected to make his final decision until he meets with Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo.
Izzo has always maintained he will do what is best for the player, and not necessarily the program when consulting one of his athletes on whether or not to make the jump to the NBA. It’s a near-certainty that Izzo thinks Bridges is ready, and would advise him to take his talents to the next level.
Michigan State is slated to be a top ten team next year with or without Bridges, but early predictions have Michigan State pushed all the way into the top five if Bridges were to make his return to campus.
This certainly news that all college basketball fans are going to want to keep an eye on, but in the meantime let’s hear from you, Nation. What do you think Miles Bridges should do?
