It’s Official: Miles Bridges Returning to Michigan State After Passing On Early Departure For NBA

Miles Bridges is coming back to East Lansing for his sophomore year.

Bridges made the announcement in front of the Spartan Statue near Spartan Stadium on campus to come back for another season. Bridges averaged nearly 17 points and over eight rebounds a game in his freshman season with MSU.

Most mock drafts had Bridges going later lottery in the pick 9-14 range. According to realgm.com, those picks come with a salary between $2 and $2.9 million in the 2017-18 season. Even if Bridges' stock doesn't go up or down, in the 2018-19 season those same selections will pay $2.3 to $3.1 million for first year of contract.

Bridges' decision comes nearly a month after the Spartans were eliminated in the NCAA Tournament by Kansas in the round of 32. In that span, debates ranged from money to legacy and everything in between on whether he should stay in school or go pro.

In the end only one man could make that decision and that was Bridges. He said he'd make the best possible decision for himself, and it's pretty obvious Spartan fans agree with him.

Bridges' return means Michigan State has 11 scholarship players for next season including their two signees for the class of 2017 (5-star Jaren Jackson and 4-star Xavier Tillman). Ben Carter's status for a sixth year of eligibility is in limbo which could make 12. That means the Spartans still have room to add via recruitment or transfer this offseason. With all this talent returning to the floor in 2017-18 the Spartans are becoming favorites for NCAA title contention next season.