Michigan State sophomore Miles Bridges is expected to make a big impact for the Spartans this year, and ESPN has named him the best college basketball player in America for 2017-18.
According to the list, compiled by Jeff Borzello, John Gasaway, Jeff Goodman, Myron Medcalf and Dan Murphy, Bridges tops the 50 best college basketball player.
He is the preseason leader for the Wooden Award and returned for his sophomore season after a stellar freshman year where he was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
In 28 games last season, Bridges averaged 16.9 pounds per game, 8.3 rebounds per game with a .486 shot percentage.
He also headlined the Associated Press' pre-season All American team.
"The sophomore returned to chase Big Ten and national titles after a freshman season few players in the country could match (16.9 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 1.5 BPG, 38.9 percent from the 3-point line). When Bridges left the floor, Michigan State's success rate from beyond the arc dropped to 34.8 percent, compared with its overall 38.8 percent clip with him on the court, per HoopLens.com," ESPN writes.
