With almost all of the major Class of 2020 prospects off the board and the Class of 2021 recruitment cycle in a waiting pattern due to an extended recruitment period in the midst of canceling summer showcase events, the Emoni Bates’ Commitment to the State of Michigan injected a little life on the college basketball news cycle on Monday.
Right now, the 6-foot-8-inch small forward is the # 1 player in the class of 2022 and is considered one of the best prospects since LeBron James. So it could be more than two years before we seem suitable for Spartans, if it does. And until he does, there will be lingering conversations about the possibility of him heading to the NBA’s G-League. But in the meantime, getting a commitment from one of the most heralded prospects of the past decade is a huge boost for the state of Michigan, even if potential dividends on the field are far away.
The Spartans were in no way fighting, they tied for the 2020 Big Ten regular season title, but getting a player that many call the best high school player in the country, regardless of class, is a huge boost to a show. who won his prize. last national championship before Bates was born.
Here’s what Monday’s news means to the state of Michigan:
Spartans will remain a contender (if he plays)
Duke won the national championship in 2015 with No. 1 overall prospect Jahlil Okafor in the lead, and Kentucky won it all in 2012 with No. 1 overall prospect Anthony Davis as his star.
Assuming Bates plays for Michigan State, he will make the Spartans a national title contender. That’s what happens when the No. 1 player in a recruiting class joins a show with a Hall of Fame coach and high-level tradition and resources.
The only impediments to No. 1 prospects competing realistically for national titles in the past decade have been NCAA problems (James Wiseman in Memphis), lack of help (Ben Simmons at LSU) and injuries (Nerlens Noel in Kentucky).
Considering that there are likely to be rules that allow NCAA athletes to take advantage of backup opportunities for when Bates plays for the state of Michigan, he should be able to avoid NCAA eligibility issues.
You should also have plenty of other talented players around you at Michigan State to help you avoid the frustrations that plague Simmons at LSU. Injury, of course, is a wild card. But barring something disastrous, it’s almost an inevitable conclusion that Bates would bring enough star power to help Tom Izzo compete for his second national championship.
Do you want more analysis of college hoops? Listen below and subscribe to the Eye on College Basketball podcast where we take you beyond hardwood with insider information and instant reactions.
Restore Spartans as a recruiting power
Until Bates’ engagement, the last five-star Michigan State recruit was Jaren Jackson Jr., who was ranked # 8 in the Class of 2017. The 2018 Spartans class ranked 17th nationally and featured With three four-star players, the 2019 class was ranked 26 and had two four-star players and the 2020 class was ranked 45 with two four-star players.
Izzo has been attracting the best players. But the big recruiting victories had been lost until Monday. Even if Bates, perhaps the highest ranked recruit in school history (beating Magic Johnson, who signed with MSU in 1977), he ends up shirking college basketball and finding a way directly to the professionals, his faith in Izzo and his staff. They will have a domino effect.
In a recruiting world dominated by Kentucky, Duke and North Carolina, Bates’ engagement has just re-established the state of Michigan as an elite force, and should help the Spartans chase down other top players.
The Spartans mark their territory
Second-year coach Michigan coach Juwan Howard is proving himself capable of getting the Wolverines to mingle with true elite prospects. He has positioned the Wolverines to challenge the state of Michigan for recruiting supremacy within the state. But by getting a commitment from Bates, the Spartans are proving they are still one step ahead of their neighbors in recruiting, especially with the state’s best talents.
Their engagement comes four and a half years after Josh Jackson rejected Michigan State for Kansas. Jackson was a Detroit native and the No. 1 prospect in the class of 2016.
Without him, the Spartans fought for one of their worst Izzo-era records.
Test the value of continuity.
Bates thanked Izzo and Michigan State Assistant Mike Garland when he announced his commitment to the Spartans.
He said he valued her loyalty to him during the recruiting process and that their relationship dates back to when Bates was in seventh grade. That is a testament to the continuity of Michigan State personnel.
Garland is in his second stint with the Spartans and has been with the show for 20 years. Associate Head Coach Dwayne Stephens has been on Izzo’s staff for 16 years. Another associate head coach, Dane Fife, has been with Michigan State for eight years. That collective continuity, and Garland’s long relationship with Bates and his family clearly paid dividends for the state of Michigan in recruiting Bates.
