Report: Bridges ‘leaning heavily’ toward MSU return

East Lansing — While Michigan State prepares to put the final touches on its recruiting class, it’s starting to look like the most important piece to next season’s roster might be ready to make a decision.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, Miles Bridges has canceled agent meetings and is “leaning heavily toward returning for (his) sophomore year.”

There was nothing official coming from Michigan State on Wednesday, but the possibility of Bridges, the Big Ten’s Freshman of the Year, returning for another season has been far from a pipe dream for Michigan State fans.

Bridges said after Michigan State’s loss to Kansas in the NCAA Tournament that he would take his time and consult with his mother and coach Tom Izzo before deciding. Since then, he hasn’t said much. He has been seen with teammates at the high school boys state championships at the Breslin Center, and joined his fellow Spartans earlier that week when they showed up to watch incoming freshman Xavier Tillman play in the state playoffs.

When a final decision might come remains up in the air, though Wojnarowski posted on Twitter that Bridges will finalize his decision after meeting with Izzo. The deadline to submit his name for the NBA Draft is April 23. If he declares and does not hire an agent, Bridges would have until May 24 to withdraw and return to Michigan State. If he hires an agent, he would give up his final three seasons of eligibility.

Bridges is currently ranked No. 10 overall by ESPN’s Chad Ford, who has Bridges being selected No. 12 overall in his latest mock draft.

The Flint native averaged 16.9 points and 8.3 rebounds as a freshman for the Spartans.

mattcharboneau@detroitnews.com

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