Michigan State basketball is officially on Emoni Bates watch

With the 2020-21 college basketball season officially in the books and offseason mode in full-swing, that only means one thing: we are officially on roster movement watch.

More specifically: Emoni Bates watch.

After shocking everyone and committing to Michigan State on ESPN last summer, Bates joined the Spartans’ 2022 recruiting class. He was just a high school junior and needed to wait an entire year before actually joining Tom Izzo and Co. in East Lansing.

But there was the option to reclassify which is father, Elgin Bates, said was entirely possible. If he chose to, he could reclassify and join Michigan State in 2021.

Rumors have circled to both provide optimism and pessimism regarding his decision over the past year but shortly after he committed, there were reports that stated Emoni had no intention nor did he really want to play in the G-League. If true, that means he’ll either be in East Lansing next season or he’ll play overseas or another year of high school ball (unlikely).

Emoni Bates watch has officially begun

If there’s one thing all Michigan State fans can pay attention to pertaining to roster movement this offseason, it’s Bates and his potential decision to reclassify.

With the Spartans already dipping into the transfer portal to land Tyson Walker, Rocket Watts leaving and the inevitable announcement of Aaron Henry entering his name into the NBA draft, Michigan State is down to a couple of question marks on the roster but none bigger than Emoni.

Will he come or will he “never step foot in East Lansing” like a certain fanbase claims?

Michigan State could use him in that starting lineup right away to replace Henry (when he does announce) and he instantly turns the Spartans into a top-10 team from a top 20-25 ranked team.

High school basketball is winding down and there’s one major thing for Emoni to be thinking about so I’d be shocked if we didn’t hear his decision soon.