Brian Flinn:
Future150 National Recruiting Analyst. Covering high school basketball nationally.
East Lansing, MI (Future150) -- The Big Dance is finally here and while everyone would like to cut down the nets, there can only be one champion. That being said, there is always the chance that the next season could be better than the last. With that in mind, Future150 would like to introduce "The Next Step", a segment dedicated to breaking down each program's recruiting class as they bow out of the tournament; because there's always next season.
Make no mistake, Michigan State losing to to Middle Tennessee State will go down as one of the biggest upsets in history. This Spartan team was one of the tournament favorites, now their season is over.
Denzel Valentine, Matt Costello, and Bryn Forbes all graduate at the end of the year. Valentine was fantastic all year, and all three were very important to the Spartans.
Luckily for Michigan State, they bring in one of their best recruiting classes in recent memory. Top ten prospect Miles Bridges is the gem of a group of four top 50 prospects. Shooting guard Josh Langford is a gritty scorer who can handle the ball and defend, while Cassius Winston is a consummate point guard who can really shoot it as well. Rounding out the class is big man Nick Ward. At 6-foot-10, 240 pounds, he has ideal size for the center position and should fill Matt Costello's role wall.
Bridges has the tools to be a one-and-done, superstar type player. His athleticism and skill set make him a unique matchup on the wing, and he should soften the blow of losing Valentine. Look for the Spartans to be one of the top programs in the Big Ten again next season.
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