The Breslin Student Events Center photographed on Aug. 23, 2019.
—Emoni Bates, the top basketball recruit for the Class of 2022, announced his commitment to Michigan State during a live ESPN interview Monday afternoon.
"I'm not sure what the future may hold, but what I do know right now is that I will be committing to Michigan State University," Bates said in the interview. "They've (Michigan State) been showing love to me since I was in seventh grade. ... I'm big on loyalty and they've shown me loyalty so I have to show them love back."
The 6-foot-8-inch, 200-pound small forward has been compared to LeBron James in terms of his recruiting value. Head basketball coach Tom Izzo has had an interest in Bates as an addition to MSU's team for several years.
Bates, a Ypsilanti, Michigan native, won the Gatorade Michigan Player of the Year his freshman and sophomore year, and Gatorade National Player of the Year this past season. He led his team to the state championship in 2019, where his team finished 19-3 overall.
He chose MSU over offers from Michigan, Duke, Florida State, Kentucky, Georgia and DePaul.
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