Emoni Bates Enters the NBA Draft
Photo by Kirthmon F. Dozier
Eastern Michigan forward and former Memphis Tiger Emoni Bates has forgone his college eligibility and signed with an agent, submitting his name into the NBA Draft. Bates, who was recruited heavily in high school, had a different path to the NBA Draft than most.
After High School, Bates attended Memphis and played under Head Coach Penny Hardaway. Bates struggled to find a rhythm scoring at Memphis and only averaged 9.7 points in an 18 game stretch. After struggling and dealing with injuries, he transferred from Memphis to Eastern Michigan where he could be closer to home.
After Bates announced his decision to transfer to Eastern Michigan, his life turned upside down. In September of last year, Emoni Bates was charged with two felonies. Carrying a concealed weapon and having altering ID marks at a traffic stop. Bates was suspended by Eastern Michigan both as a student and a basketball player indefinitely.
Bates was sentenced to 18 months of probation for pleading guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge, but the prosecutors agreed to drop the felony charges a month later and was reinstated by Eastern Michigan as a student and athlete.
Bates bounced back in a big way his sophomore season with Eastern Michigan. Despite the Eagles going 8-23 for the season, Bates finished the season averaging 20 points and 6 rebounds while shooting 33 percent from behind the arch. Bates also put in a 43 point performance against Toledo, dropping 29 points in the first half.
Bates will now look to the NBA Draft. He is a high volume scorer whose skills can translate to the NBA level, but may need to build his strength to match some talent in the league as his frame is slender. Bates will spend the next few months working out for NBA scouts and will hope to hear his name called on draft night.
