Emoni Bates, the number one player in the class of 2022, has committed to Tom Izzo and the Michigan State Spartans. Bates, from Ypsilanti, Michigan will stay home and try to help his home-state school cut down the nets for the first time since 2000.
Emoni Bates Commits to the Michigan State Spartans
Buy Into the Hype
Bates has been considered the best high school prospect in a long time, joining the conversation with players like Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Andrew Wiggins. According to 247sports, Bates is currently a 5-star recruit with a perfect rating of 100.
The 6’8 forward draws a lot of comparisons to the aforementioned Kevin Durant. Bates is long and slim but can do everything with the basketball. He can get his shot off from anywhere on the floor and is very comfortable attacking the hoop. As he continues to develop, much like Durant, he will only dominate more.
As of right now, ESPN has Bates rated the number one player in high school basketball, regardless of class. That is impressive for a player that just wrapped up his sophomore year of high school. Imagine how great he will be after his senior season. To put it in perspective, Bates won the Gatorade Player of the Year which has never been won by a sophomore. Adding to that, the class of 2020 is loaded with NBA talent and Bates outplayed all of them.
While it is difficult to compare high school stats and find a common denominator, AAU comes in handy. Bates plays in the loaded Nike EYBL circuit. At the most famous tournament, the Nike Peach Jam, Bates averaged 32.2 points and 10.0 rebounds, just after finishing his freshman year in high school.
Emoni Bates Recruitment
Interestingly, Bates did not receive the attention that many thought he would garner. According to 247sports, he received an offer from Michigan, Kentucky, Florida State, and DePaul, outside of the Spartans. Izzo has been keeping in constant contact with Bates because he knows how generational he can be.
It is possible the recruitment of Bates was light because he could pursue the NBA G-League and bypass college, but Bates shot those speculations down when he said he would rather attend college for a year than go to the G-League.
Michigan State Spartans
All in all, if you are a Spartans fan, you could not be happier. If you are a fan of Ohio State, Michigan, or any other Big Ten school you are punching the air. The smooth-shooting, lethal-scoring Emoni Bates chose the Spartans and he is going to take the country by storm. A lot of players get attention in high school that is not always deserved, but Bates has earned it and that much more. He is the real deal. Congratulations, Michigan State.
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