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Big Ten: 5 Freshman Making An Immediate Impact In 2016-17

By Casey Pazzalia

Dec 17, 2016; Des Moines, IA, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Jordan Bohannon (3) goes to the basket during the second half against the Northern Iowa Panthers at Wells Fargo Arena. Iowa won 69-46. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2016; Des Moines, IA, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Jordan Bohannon (3) goes to the basket during the second half against the Northern Iowa Panthers at Wells Fargo Arena. Iowa won 69-46. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 20, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Miles Bridges (22) drives the baseline against Florida Gulf Coast Eagles forward Demetris Morant (21) during the second half of a game at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Miles Bridges (22) drives the baseline against Florida Gulf Coast Eagles forward Demetris Morant (21) during the second half of a game at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Miles Bridges, Michigan State

Despite missing seven games with an ankle injury, Miles Bridges has lived up to the hype in East Lansing.

In his first game back against Rutgers, Tom Izzo eased Bridges back into action, playing him 17 minutes off the bench. Although he only scored six points in the Spartans 93-65 win, Bridges stole the show with his rim-rattling dunks.

https://twitter.com/BigTenNetwork/status/816814719411458048

Miles Bridges is the X-factor for the Spartans, leading the team in scoring (14.5 PPG) and rebounding (8.0 RPG).

His success should come as no surprise.

According to ESPN, he was the second best recruit in the state of Michigan and No. 8 ranked recruit overall for the class of 2016.

Bridges, a five-star prospect from Flint, Michigan, passed up offers from Kentucky and Indiana. Instead, he chose to stay at home and go to Michigan State.

Expect Miles Bridges back in Michigan State’s starting lineup going forward. The Spartans need to shore up their NCAA Tournament resume after losing five non-conference games.

Following his stellar freshman season, it would be no surprise if Bridges was a lottery pick in this year’s NBA Draft.