Michigan State Basketball: Emoni Bates hints at potential 2021 reclassification

Just minutes after Jaden Akins committed to Michigan State basketball, Emoni Bates posted a hint at potential reclassification on Instagram.

Jaden Akins made his commitment to Michigan State official on Thursday afternoon with a video on his Twitter and it capped off one heck of a recruiting run by Tom Izzo which was sparked by Emoni Bates in late-June.

When Bates committed on national TV, it may have fast-tracked commitments from guys like Max Christie and Enoch Boakye, both five-star recruits.

When Christie committed, it seemed like almost a direct correlation to Bates’ decision. Boakye’s decision felt the same. While Christie is a five-star and No. 1 shooting guard in the 2021 class, Boakye is a five-star center from Canada in the 2022 class with a chance to reclassify.

Reclassification has been a major theme of the summer with the 2021 class as Bates has that option as well, but mum has been the word for him.

After Akins, his new high school teammate, committed to Michigan State on Thursday, Bates hinted at a potential reclassification.

It was a seemingly subtle post but it had plenty of meaning behind it. Michigan State fans knew what he meant by “2021 thoughts” while posting an edit of him wearing a Spartan uniform.

Right now, that decision may be way down the road, but Akins’ commitment has spurned some reclassification interest in Bates. He’s the big piece of the puzzle because if he reclassifies, Boakye will likely follow his lead.

Michigan State’s dream class is taking shape and if Bates, Akins, Pierre Brooks, Boakye and Christie all come in with the 2021 class, Tom Izzo may be the closest he’s ever been to a second national title. That’d be his best class ever, by a decent margin. Move over, 2016 class.