Miles Bridges Declares for NBA Draft, Will Sign with Agent

Miles Bridges Declares for NBA Draft, Will Sign with Agent

East Lansing, Mich. – One year after announcing to an audience of teammates, classmates and fans in front of the statue of Sparty on campus that he would return for his sophomore season, Michigan State men’s basketball player Miles Bridges announced today that he will forgo his final two years of eligibility and submit his name for the 2018 NBA Draft. He plans to sign with an agent.

Bridges helped lead MSU to the Big Ten Regular Season Championship, the NCAA Tournament and to a 30-5 overall record this season.

“God couldn’t have placed me in a better place for these last two years,” Bridges said. “I want to thank Coach Izzo and the rest of the coaching staff for giving a skinny kid from Flint a chance to play at such a legendary program. I would like to thank the academic support staff for helping me out every day. I also want to thank Spartan Nation for welcoming me with open arms into their community and school. And last but not least, I would like to thank my teammates for the bond and memories that we will share for a lifetime.”

Bridges said that, like last year, he had lengthy talks with Head Coach Tom Izzo about this decision to turn pro.

“Miles wanted to come back to school this year because he loved Michigan State, he loved his teammates and friends and he loved being part of this community,” Izzo said. “I think I speak for all of Spartan Nation in thanking him for how he represented us and for all of the great things he helped us achieve. He’s given us everything we could ask for and so much more. Miles is a mature young man who has excelled on the court and has been an exemplary student. I think he’s ready to handle being a pro basketball player both on and off the court. More than anything, he conducted himself with the utmost class and humility. As his coach, it’s a thrill for me to see him getting the chance to live his dream and I look forward to following his career in the NBA.”

Bridges capped off a stellar two-year career at Michigan State this year. He was a unanimous All-Big Ten First Team selection and was named a Second Team All-American by The Sporting News, the United States Basketball Writers Association, USA Today and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).

Bridges led Michigan State in scoring with 17.0 points per game, was second on the team with 7.0 rebounds and third on the team with 2.8 assists per game. He ranked sixth in the Big Ten in scoring, 11th in rebounding and fourth in the league in free throw percentage (85.3 percent).

He was one of only four players in the country averaging at least 17.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 0.8 blocks per game.

Bridges was also selected to the National Ballot for the John R. Wooden Award®, is one of five finalists for the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award, is one of 10 national semifinalists competing for the 50th Citizen Naismith Trophy for Men’s College Player of the Year and is on the watch list for the Oscar Robertson Trophy.

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