Emoni Bates: let me be the first to jinx us.

My very uninformed opinion, this kid has been psychologically abused by adults, some of which were in his own family, since he’s been 12 years old. What freaked me out is the headline that said Emoni Bates, 18 years old, I was thinking holy cow 18 years old. Kid has lived a whole life in the spotlight and he’s only 18. He needs some positive influence in his life. I hope he gets it

Felony charges against former top recruit Emoni Bates to be dismissed

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/34789530/felony-charges-former-top-recruit-emoni-bates-dismissed

19 points and 6 rebounds/game.

Eastern is 2-9 though.

Glad to see it. Hoping the kid lives up to his potential. Would have been amazing if he helped pull off the win against UofM.

steveschneider wrote:Glad to see it. Hoping the kid lives up to his potential. Would have been amazing if he helped pull off the win against UofM.

I thought Eastern looked like a decent team when they played UM. Maybe UM is just terrible playing defense.

NigelUno wrote:

steveschneider wrote:Glad to see it. Hoping the kid lives up to his potential. Would have been amazing if he helped pull off the win against UofM.

I thought Eastern looked like a decent team when they played UM. Maybe UM is just terrible playing defense.

I missed it. Haven’t been able to watch any UofM yet. It’s early but the projections I saw recently have Howard’s kid going late in the first. Having a pro on the team can help a lot and my guess is their season will hinge around how he develops.

Posting this because MSU is mentioned (as one would expect) with coaches Izzo, Garland, and Stan Heath all quoted. It doesn’t advance the story very far, and mentions the pitfalls and brief periods of NBA potential. I noticed the writer used the term ‘stage-manage’ early on when describing Bates’ dad. The subtext is there in several instances on down the story.

Like others have mentioned over the past couple of years, I feel bad for the kid and hope it all works out for him where he earns solid paychecks in whatever league and in whatever part of the world he’s playing. He’s been through a ton and there’s plenty of years in his body to create a comfortable life and I hope he gets there.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/02/sports/ncaabasketball/emoni-bates-nba-basketball.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Read the article too it’s another tale of What might have been. 

What Izzo and Stan Heath said and have done it substantiates what most of us thought of why Izzo/MSU backed off and that Stan Heath was willing to take a flyer to give Bates a shot when no one else would because of his baggage.

The surprising thing for me was EMU having 8 wins shows Bates development stalled when he started facing bigger, stronger, faster opponents very game in D1.

Bates just turned 19 and is listed at 6’ 10” / 170#.

For comparison, Chet Holmgren is  15 months older than Bates and was 7’1” / 195#  at the NBA combine.  He didn’t reclassify to start college early and was 2nd overall pick in the 2022 draft after a season at Gonzaga.

Leaving home to be a 17 year old freshman at Memphis hurt Bates.

I’m actually really hoping this kid makes this work. I also hope now that he’s 19, his dad can back off a bit. I hope the team who drafts him can set him up with a good mentor.

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DWags wrote:I’m actually really hoping this kid makes this work. I also hope now that he’s 19, his dad can back off a bit. I hope the team who drafts him can set him up with a good mentor.

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He'll get drafted. He has skills. Needs to put on some weight.

Agree that it would be nice to see the guy do well, especially after all the drama others have created around him for so much of his life. Still, I can’t help but imagine his dad trying to coach his kid alongside his pro coach—and how well that will go over with any NBA club. lol

tGreenWay wrote:Agree that it would be nice to see the guy do well, especially after all the drama others have created around him for so much of his life. Still, I can’t help but imagine his dad trying to coach his kid alongside his pro coach—and how well that will go over with any NBA club. lol

I thought in the NBA the coaches were more used to dealing with the huge egos the players have, which if that is the case having to contend with his dad would be more of the same.

Trapper Gus wrote:

tGreenWay wrote:Agree that it would be nice to see the guy do well, especially after all the drama others have created around him for so much of his life. Still, I can’t help but imagine his dad trying to coach his kid alongside his pro coach—and how well that will go over with any NBA club. lol

I thought in the NBA the coaches were more used to dealing with the huge egos the players have, which if that is the case having to contend with his dad would be more of the same.

While I make no claim to knowing how the pros operate, I’d have a hard time believing any team would put up with Bates Sr.’s shenanigans. Maybe if the kid was a top draft choice, but again, I haven’t any idea.

tGreenWay wrote:

Trapper Gus wrote:

I thought in the NBA the coaches were more used to dealing with the huge egos the players have, which if that is the case having to contend with his dad would be more of the same.

While I make no claim to knowing how the pros operate, I’d have a hard time believing any team would put up with Bates Sr.’s shenanigans. Maybe if the kid was a top draft choice, but again, I haven’t any idea.

My guess is a professional organization will tell his dad to get eff'd and the extent of his involvement will be what percentage, if any, he wants direct deposited from his check to his dad's bank account.

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Emoni goes #49 overall to Cleveland.

I think DWags actually jinxed Bates.

Turtleneck wrote:I think DWags actually jinxed Bates.

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DWags wrote:

Turtleneck wrote:I think DWags actually jinxed Bates.

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He has skills. In the right situation, he'll do well.

*(Some guy named Sam Merrill had 27 points for Cleveland in that game.)

Gabe had 11 for Phoenix. Started. I'd guess he'll have some connections that will get him on their G League team.

I am rooting for Bates to do well in the NBA. No issues with the guy. I hope he tears it up in the league...except for games against the Pistons. Against the Pistons I hope he gets benched for lousy play.

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