Bates goes into draft after reconstructing stock at EMU
Emoni Bates is going into the NBA draft, banking on groups being interested with his potential as a scorer after seeing flashes of his talent in two seasons of college basketball.Bates made the announcement Monday on social networks.”What I been dreaming for my entire life,
“he posted on Instagram.The 6-foot-10 wing averaged 19.2 points and 5.8 rebounds in 30 games
at Eastern Michigan last season, making 40.5 %of his shots total and 33%of 3-point attempts.”I’m thrilled for Emoni and his future,”Eagles coach Stan Heath told The Associated
Press.”He is a talented young player who works incredibly tough and is enthusiastic to be successful. “Editor’s Picks Bates is the No. 56 possibility in ESPN’s draft rankings.After graduating from high school in 3 years and being considered a basketball prodigy, Bates went to Memphis for one season and
balanced 9.7 points in 18 games during an injury-shortened season. He moved to play for Eastern Michigan in his home town of Ypsilanti.” I understand he will continue to improve and develop as he continues the journey,”Heath stated.”There is no question his best basketball is ahead, and I support him on his decision. “Bates will invest the next couple of months exercising for NBA groups and addressing their questions about his life on and off the court.In September, he was charged with two felonies– carrying a concealed weapon and “altering ID marks”– after a traffic stop and was suspended by Eastern Michigan as a trainee and basketball player. His attorney said the vehicle and the gun didn’t belong to Bates.Bates was sentenced in December to 18 months of probation after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor weapon charge, a conviction that will be expunged from his record if he finishes probation successfully.
He was restored to the school and to the basketball team in October after prosecutors consented to drop felony charges versus him.Bates recuperated as a basketball player and at times throughout his sophomore season revealed a few of the skills that made him the first sophomore high school basketball player to win the Gatorade nationwide player of the year award and landed him on the cover of Sports Illustrated.He scored 29 straight points for Eastern Michigan in the first half of a loss last season at Toledo, where he finished with career highs in points(43)and 3-pointers(9)after making 15 of 23 shots.In 2019 as a high school freshman, the slender and skilled guard led Ypsilanti Lincoln to a state title and was called Michigan’s Division 1 Gamer of the Year by The Associated Press. His sophomore season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, and he attended Ypsi Preparation Academy as a junior, his last
year of high school.Bates initially dedicated to bet Tom Izzo at Michigan State. He later on decommitted and signed with Memphis and coach Cent Hardaway.