Still possible he goes pro but there’s also the option he reclassifies to 2021, which would mean he plays college
He’s only going into his junior year of high school, but very much still an option. Sounds like the NBA isn’t going to have the one and done rule changed by the 2022 draft, so his options are: 2 years of high school then MSU 1 year of high school, reclassify then MSU 2 years of high school then G-League
If he reclasses he’ll spend 2 years at msu too. I think the blue bloods and Michigan fucked up not putting up a fight. He still likely ends up at msu, but this is basically get a year of lebron in college. I believe oden ended up at osu in similar circumstances. No one but matta recruited him thinking the entry rule wouldn’t be changed then it was and oden felt loyalty to osu.
Kind of hope Bates makes it to campus just to see how NIL works in an extreme case with someone that good. Seems like he could push $15-20M in endorsements easily as a FR and possibly be the first college kid with his own shoe.
Theoretically could. From people who seem close to the situation on the MSU boards, it really isn’t about an immediate payday. That is why Bates himself said the G-League isn’t all that desirable. If the league is able to nix the 1 and done rule no chance he steps on any campus. If it is still in place, which sounds like the wind is blowing in that direction, it is very likely he plays sometime at MSU. Especially if the NIL becomes official.
It’s so weird that people can be convinced he will never play a minute in college.......after he takes the time to commit to one. It’s not like he has to worry about open scholarships so he needs to lock in this backup plan. I’m mentally prepared for him to change his mind but it’s pretty clear from action and words he is into the idea of playing at MSU.
It's not like that opinion is just randoms on the internet saying it. Bates is a generational HS talent and even he says MSU is the only school that was really recruiting him. That says pretty much every other school in the country just gave up either because they thought he was MSU bound, or they think it's not worth the effort because they don't think there's much (or any) chance he plays in college. The second scenario seems far more likely, doesn't it? His own quote today was "I'm not sure what the future may hold, but as of right now I'll be committing to Michigan State."
I personally think it is a combination of both. The second scenario explains the lack of interest leading up until last summer/into the fall. All signs pointed to the one and done being eliminated by the time Bates was ready to leave high school. I think I recall Izzo recruiting Oden and being one of the early favorites before stopping because everyone thought the one and done wasn't as coming as soon as it did. Think I recall him saying he would never do that again. And then 15 years later the reverse situation and he is the only one recruiting him. Granted it is very convenient the kid is in his own backyard. Then we flash forward to the fall and early parts of winter and there is growing uncertainty that the elimination of the one and done won't happen as early as anticipated (think Woj said 2025). At that point, you had one program that recruited him for 4 years and there isn't a point for another program to attempt. Although you saw Howard make a few appearances at his games. The path seems relatively clear from here though, if the one and done elimination winds turn and it is indeed eliminated by 2022 he probably never sets foot on a college campus as others have said. If that doesn't happen, which seems to be a growing sentiment, you have reclassifying and playing a year or two at MSU, overseas, and the G-League. The latter doesn't seem too fond to the Bates family based on their interviews today, although I suppose the x-factor is if it provides way more exposure while paying a nice one year contract. That then leaves overseas and playing at MSU. MSU boards that seem to have some insight into the way his family thinks and they believe going overseas is unlikely given it hasn't been the springboard of exposure for many. Granted not many of his caliber have attempted that route either.
And if the one and done rule is eliminated when he is ready to come out, I think every MSU fan knows he isn't setting foot on a college campus. But if it is just the G-League as competition the odds go way up for attending college, unless of course Jalen Green and the others get as much exposure as playing for Duke vs. UNC or similar rivalries will garner. Have to have games to occur for that to happen though.
Seems like it and it sounds like um is running second, we seem to be running into fsu quite bit on the recruiting trail under juwan. Dickinson and now Warley and Cleveland this cycle.
Yeah, coach CY kills it in the Atlanta area. It's also weird seeing fsu with this many high profile kids. The tchiko kid that reclassified seems to be an fsu fsu lean as well.
Yes. Josh Smith committed to Indiana. I can almost see the elite 8 banner now if he had made it to campus.
Oh man sorry about that but it sounds like all the blue bloods and Michigan didn’t recruit him because he was gonna go pro
On top of what you outlined, wouldn't a kid attending a school his dad literally made up going into his junior year raise academic eligibility questions? I think that part of it is super odd as well. I'd like to see him play in college just to see how well he does, it just seems really unlikely still.
On the first point, I don't believe his dad is just creating a school out of thin air. This article sheds some light on it: https://www.cbssports.com/college-b...layer-at-the-perfect-time-for-michigan-state/ Seems like his dad created the team and they are partnering with an already known prep school to provide the academics. Isn't like his dad is just hiring teachers and putting a whole school, just operating the basketball team. Either way, it is unprecedented. Anyways hopefully this moves up Christie's timeline and Aikens soon follows and in a position to be loaded in 2021 if Bates reclassifies. Probably will be a lot of moving parts between now and then with Emoni.
I watched Bates's highlights. He is very good, but in no way he is comparable to Lebron in high school. I can get on board with the "best prospect in a while" hype.
Doesn’t even matter. No chance the NCAA would risk making him ineligible so that they can’t profit off of him.
He’s certainly not the same physical specimen yet, but he’s also super young. Too early to make that call IMO.
This thread is funny. I had forgotten how desperate Indiana basketball fans are to be considered relevant.
People aren’t comparing him to Lebron, they are saying he is the best prospect since Lebron (also just only finished his Sophomore year, so it’s not apples to apples comparison). His comparison is Kevin Durant
Best prospect since Lebron while the majority agreed Oden was a better HS/college prospect and probably same with Anthony Davis Just find the whole Durant being the best prospect since Lebron as nothing but revisionist shit.
You can say he’s the best prospect since LeBron and that he has a skill set similar to Durant while still rendering Oden irrelevant in the discussion.