So you’re telling me Michigan State basketball has a chance with Emoni Bates?

Just when we thought Michigan State basketball was out, Emoni Bates pulled everyone right back in with his surprise top eight release on Friday night.

The five-star and arguably the top player in the 2022 class decommitted from Michigan State months ago and it looked like the dream was over.

Bates was getting offers from other top programs and it looked like his interest in the Spartans had diminished. The dream was over almost as quickly as it came out and fans no longer has to wonder what life would be like with Emoni in green and white.

Tom Izzo could move forward without having to play the ‘what if?’ game with Emoni in regards to reclassification and overall fit with the program.

Or can he?

All the fans who pretty much gave up on this recruitment have been drawn back in with the classic Jim Carrey line from Dumb and Dumber, “So you’re telling me there’s a chance.”

Michigan State landing Emoni might have the same chances that Lloyd Christmas had with Mary Swanson in Dumb and Dumber of “more like one in a million.”

OK, maybe it’s slightly better than one in a million, but Michigan State isn’t likely to get a second commitment from Bates, especially after he decommitted with essentially no warning. While that probably happens all the time, no one really got the feel that the door was left open when he decommitted. It seemed like he was ready for a clean break.

I think that’s why you see three professional leagues in his top eight. He’s also considering Oregon, Memphis, Miami, and Baylor.

Right now, I’d give the Spartans a two percent shot — and that’s being generous.

Michigan State basketball ‘not actively recruiting’ Bates

When Bates’ top eight was revealed, 247Sports‘ Justin Thind did some quick digging and found out from inside the program that the Spartans are no longer actively recruiting him.

This isn’t a huge surprise, but if Emoni did decide to come back to Michigan State, the coaching staff would be crazy to say no. Just because they haven’t been active in his recruitment since he decommitted doesn’t mean Michigan State is out here.

Emoni included the Spartans because he probably still loves the school.

Will he end up in East Lansing? Probably not, but this gave fans a sliver of a hope once again.