Michigan State's season came to an end Sunday evening at the hands of top-seeded Kansas in the second round of the NCAA tournament. And as it is in life, so too it is with sports: When one season ends, another begins.

Translation: It's officially Will-he-or-won't-he season for Miles Bridges and MSU.

The star Spartan who just rapped up perhaps the best freshman season in school history (16.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game) is understandably undecided about whether he will leave early for the NBA.

Keep in mind Bridges turns just 19 on Tuesday.

Detroit Free Press MSU beat writer and all-around media celebrity Chris Solari picked Bridges' brain on the elephant in the room just moments after his season (career?) at MSU came to an end:

OK, so now we wait.

Bridges' return would obviously be dope considering State returns its core of fellow freshmen (Cassius Winston, Nick Ward and Josh Langford), not to mention another highly touted recruiting class and, finally, some size (Gavin Schilling is expected back, and Ben Carter may get an extra year of eligibility from the NCAA).

Hopes will be high next hoops season in East Lansing regardless, but if No. 22 is in the mix we will be dealing with some next-level hype. Think about those other three freshmen with a full season of playing together under Tom Izzo under their belt; a full complement of role players like Kenny Goins, Matt McQuad, etc.; another über-talented crop of freshmen; AND a bonafide NBA wing, all at Izzo's fingertips.

Of course that means Bridges would be turning down literally millions of dollars from the NBA, which would require the kind of guts and general morality this writer lacks. He is currently projected as a mid-first-round pick by many draftniks, and that, thanks to new average rookie salary figures implemented by the NBA's latest CBA, would probably mean at least $3 million for his first year alone.

Sidebar: Bridges' dad said last month he expects his son to return to MSU for his sophomore season, so there's that.

And remember, college basketball players can now enter into NBA draft consideration but withdraw and return to school so long as they don't hire an agent. The deadline to withdraw--effectively the deadline to enter the draft--is 10 days after the NBA Draft Combine ends. The 2017 combine runs from May 9 through 14.


Beanie can be heard on “The AM Game Plan,” weekdays from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. on The Game 730 AM WVFN. You can also find his rantings and musings on Facebook and Twitter.

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