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Why Emoni Bates is a monumental win for MSU basketball, even if he never plays

Emoni Bates may never take a shot for Michigan State. His commitment to the Spartans’ basketball program Monday was a big win for Tom Izzo anyway.

The best high school player in the country told a national audience he loved the Green and White. On the recruiting trail, that will help almost as much as Bates’ silky jumpers.

Just ask Izzo, who can’t talk about Bates’ announcement just yet, but who has said in the past that winning doesn’t influence recruiting as much as signing and sending other star recruits to the NBA.