Emoni Bates was one projected to be the next big NBA star, being compared to Kevin Durant in high school. A series of poor decisions both on and off the court caused him to go from highly regarded to his NBA dream almost being dead. Bates will be hoping to get a team to give him an opportunity in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Bates spoke to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype and revealed he still looks at himself with the legendary potential many thought he had when he was rising through the ranks in high school.
“In my opinion, I definitely feel like I can be one of the best players to ever play this game because I know how hard I work. I’ve been playing against people that are going into this draft my whole life. For me, this is about getting better and stronger. When I get stronger, it’s going to be fun.”
Bates has already worked out for the Dallas Mavericks and Charlotte Hornets and is currently projected to be a late second-round pick. He also has workouts scheduled with the Pistons, Nets, Cavaliers, Suns, Thunder, and Trail Blazers.
Given his low projection, he could be a low-risk flier for any team even if they don’t already have a second-round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, as acquiring one can usually be done over cash considerations.
Emoni Bates Scouting Profile
Bates came into the NCAA at the age of 17 and committed to the Michigan State Spartans before de-committing and joining the Memphis Tigers. He had a bad freshman season and ended up transferring to the lower-profile Eastern Michigan Eagles, where he had a solid season, averaging 19.3 points and re-entering NBA Draft boards after being unable to enter in 2022 because of the low likelihood of him being drafted.
The 19-year-old is an electric 6’9″ scorer with a lot of upside despite his unpolished defensive attributes. His 6’9″ wingspan is not as long for someone his size but could lend to making him a more accurate shooter at the NBA level. He has poor shot IQ at times, which will need to be checked in the NBA, as he’s likely not coming in as the star he had been at all prior spots in his career.
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