The Cleveland Cavaliers drafted high school basketball sensation Emoni Bates with the 49th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Bates was one of the most hyped prospects of the decade, ranking #1 in his high school class. But by the time the draft rolled around, Bates was no longer a phenom or even a first-round pick. He has been a two-way player ever since, spending time with the Cavs and their G-League affiliate, the Cleveland Charge.
Bates was unsuccessful in his time with the Cavs in the 2023-24 season. He averaged 2.7 points per game in 8.9 minutes over 15 games. His efficiency was abysmal, as he shot 30.6% from the field and 30.3% from 3-point land.
G-League Ups and Downs
Playing for the Charge was a better fit for Bates, where his numbers made him look like a star. In 10 games during the 2023-24 season, Bates averaged 24.8 points per game in 33.9 minutes per game. He also averaged 5.2 rebounds per game and had a field goal percentage of 45.5% and a 3-point percentage of 41.6%.
However, Bates’ production has decreased dramatically in the 2024-25 season. He had knee surgery in October and returned on December 14th against the Wisconsin Herd. In the three games since his return, Bates has averaged 10.7 points per game on 37.9% from the field and 27.8% from deep.
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How Did We Get Here?
Emoni Bates was once regarded as the best prospect in his draft class. In 2017, he became the number one prospect in the Class of 2022 and received a scholarship offer from DePaul University. He played well in his first year at Lincoln High School, winning Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year and MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year en route to a state title.
Bates continued to go berserk in his second year at Lincoln. He scored 63 points in a game while notching two other 40-point games in the span of a few weeks.
All Downhill From There
After two years at Lincoln High School, Emoni Bates transferred to Ypsi Prep, a new school created by his dad, Elgin Bates. He became the second-best player in his class, as his team went 7-3, and his stats went down. He averaged 24.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game, down from 32.4, 9.0, and 3.0, respectively, the year before.
Bates reclassified to the Class of 2021 and committed to Memphis to play college basketball after three years of high school. By his standards, his freshman year was highly unsuccessful. He averaged only 9.7 points per game and 3.3 rebounds per game.
Off-Court Troubles
A change of scenery was necessary, so Bates transferred to Eastern Michigan for his second season of college ball.
But before he played a single minute that season, he was arrested for driving a car with a gun inside. He was only sentenced to probation, and fortunately for him, he was able to play that season. He averaged 19.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game over 30 games.
Transition to the Pros and Future Outlook
Bates then declared for the NBA Draft, but the bad news did not stop there.
His pre-draft analysis said that he lacked athleticism, defense, and strength and was inconsistent. In addition, he had a poor wingspan-to-height ratio. As a result, Bates was projected as no higher than a second-rounder.
As a 20-year-old, Emoni Bates still has plenty of time to improve and make a name for himself. If he can shake off the post-surgery rust, the Cavs may call him back up. That would be an excellent kickstart for him to reverse his downhill trend in the past few years.
If he earns his way back onto the Cavs, he’d be able to learn from coach Kenny Atkinson and the likes of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley. Bates would even have a shot at winning a ring, and maybe the world will finally see the player the former top prospect was destined to be.
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