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Michigan State Recruiting: Did Spartans’ chances improve for Mark Smith?

By Connor Muldowney

Jan 4, 2017; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo reacts to a play during the second half of a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at the Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 4, 2017; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo reacts to a play during the second half of a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at the Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kentucky just landed a four-star point guard, so does that mean Michigan State recruiting’s chances improved with four-star guard Mark Smith?

After receiving a visit from Mark Smith over the weekend, Tom Izzo and Michigan State have been forced into playing the waiting game. The four-star guard from Edwardsville, Ill., raved about Michigan State, but he also said that he wanted to take at least one more visit.

Must Read: MSU Basketball: All-time Tom Izzo era starting five, bench

That caused people to panic, but another visit isn’t a surprise to anyone. In fact, he said before his trip to East Lansing that he wanted to take all five officials. He currently has one left.

So where would that last official be directed? It was rumored that it was going to be a trip to either Kentucky or Ohio State. However, the Wildcats just landed another four-star guard, their third elite guard prospect in the 2017 class.

What does this mean for the Spartans? Well, it certainly helps their chances with Smith. Kentucky getting a visit would have been detrimental for the Spartans’ chances to land him, but now that John Calipari received a commitment from Jemarl Baker, it’s unlikely Smith will even consider the Wildcats.

That makes this a two-team race for Illinois’ Mr. Basketball award winner. Michigan State seems to be the favorite, but the longer this drags out, the better chance the Illini have.

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Either way, the Spartans’ chances improved drastically with Kentucky landing a four-star guard on Tuesday. Keep it posted here for more Smith updates.

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