For many who have followed Emoni Bates’ high school career, it was always going to be a surprise to see Bates step foot on a college campus. Bates, a 17-year-old from Michigan, had initially committed to Michigan State when the Spartans were the only team to recruit the basketball phenom.
But in a surprise move — and likely bolstered by the new NIL rules — Bates de-committed from Michigan State, reclassified into the 2021 class and opted to join Penny Hardaway at Memphis this season. Because Bates won’t be 19 until 2023, he’ll have to wait two seasons before he can play in the NBA. It might mean one season at Memphis, one in the G League or overseas — or hey, he might spend two years in college now that he can profit from it.
Still, the hype around Bates did follow a usual pattern for a young prospect. Early in his high school career, Bates was considered a generational prospect, but his development stalled a bit. His measurements at Memphis’ pro day also offered an explanation for why NBA Draft experts have cooled on Bates.
