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EAST LANSING - With Tom Izzo back from his dalliance with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Michigan State has returned to recruiting with ruthless efficiency. The pledge of Spartan legacy recruit Denzel Valentine to MSU makes it the fourth verbal to East Lansing in 10 days. The best junior in Michigan, he follows senior McDonald's All-American candidate Branden Dawson from Gary, Ind., top 50 2012 forward Kenny Kaminski and a senior sleeper point guard from Ohio, Travis Trice.  

It would surprise few if Michigan State fills its last 2012 spot shortly, with 6-9 Bay City Western junior Matt Costello. That would be another blow to Michigan's in-state recruitng bid, as Costello, like Valentine, is seriously considring U-M, and, like Valentine, impresses many as a "Beilein player." The perfect player for Micigan's system, Suttons Bay senior guard Dwaun Anderson, will also sign with Michigan State. Because while we enter another decade, nothing has changed in the 20th century when it comes to recruiting prep basketball talent in the state of Michigan. Everyone is playing for second-place after the Spartans.      

KANSAS CITY - Throw a "Spiece" on it, and ACB/Bank Hoops' 17-under team will play pretty well. In the spring, they made the silver semifinals at the Spiece Run-n-Slam in Ft. Wayne, Ind. In the the second-half of the July live period, they reached the gold championship game at the Spiece-sponsored Hoop City Classic in Kansas City, Mo, losing in the final to balanced, athletic Kansas Select.