With the No. 49 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers selected wing Emoni Bates out of Eastern Michigan.
Bates' stock fell considerably in college after being a top-five recruit in the 2021 class following years of hype, including the subject of a Sports Illustrated cover story as a 15-year-old and becoming the first high school sophomore named Gatorade National Player of the Year. He suffered a back injury in his freshman season with Memphis that sidelined him for 12 games. He ultimately underwhelmed in his debut campaign, putting up just 9.7 points per contest on 32.9% shooting from deep - casting serious doubt on the Kevin Durant comparisons he received in high school.
After uncertainty emerged about his future with Memphis during his injury absence, Bates eventually transferred to Eastern Michigan, based in his hometown of Ypsilanti, for his sophomore year. But before the season started, the school suspended Bates following his arrest on felony gun charges, which he later pled down to a misdemeanor (it'll be expunged from his record if he completes 18 months of probation). He was reinstated by Eastern Michigan and looked more promising in his second season. However, questions about Bates' NBA potential persisted, especially after the Eagles' poor campaign in a weaker conference and his lackluster measurements during his time in Memphis.
Bio
Position: Guard-forward
School: Eastern Michigan
College experience: Sophomore
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 179 lbs
Wingspan: 6-foot-9
Max vertical: 32.5 inches
2022-23 stats with Eastern Michigan
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 40.5 | 33 | 78.2 | 5.8 | 1.4 | 19.2 |
Strengths
- Naturally talented scorer; loves to use his height to his advantage in isolation plays with a tough-to-stop pull-up game from mid-range.
- Dangerous catch-and-shoot threat from well behind 3-point line.
- Can use above-average dribble game for his size and good footwork to get to his spots on the floor.
Weaknesses
- Underwhelming measurements across the board, including a near-negative wingspan, along with incredibly lanky frame for the NBA level.
- Doesn't possess super quick first step or remarkable athleticism.
- Can stall ball movement on offense; had Eastern Michigan's highest usage rate (31.1%) but fourth in usual rotation players with 9.2 assist percentage.
- Can't stay in front of drivers defensively, rendering his frequent height advantage negligible.
NBA comparable: Finding the perfect NBA match for Bates is nearly impossible because of how unique and polarizing he is as a prospect. You can still see those flashes of a Durant-esque offensive style, especially when he stops on a dime and rises with his tall frame. But truthfully, he's nowhere near that level of reliability or efficiency yet. Bates' heavily shot-reliant style on the perimeter evokes the faintest shades of Trae Young with the way they love to test their range. But Young is miles ahead as a playmaker and can better blow by his man. In short, Bates can become his own unique example. The extent of his NBA opportunities will depend on how he adjusts when his shot isn't falling and when opponents begin to target him on defense.
