Emoni Bates

Emoni Bates's Biography

Emoni Bates: From Michigan to Memphis to the NBA

Emoni Bates was born on January 28, 2004 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. His middle name, James-Wayne, is a testament to the deep connection he has with his family. From an early age, Bates was enamored with basketball. At just three years old, he started polished his skills and often slept with a mini-basketball clutched in his arms, eager to become a professional player. Under his father’s guidance, another experienced basketball player, Bates eventually honed his agility and mastery over the sport and began to stand out from his peers from a young age. He carved a small name for himself playing against high school seniors at a recreational league in his fourth grade and plunged into the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) circuit.

In 2016, Bates’s talents were first nationally recognized when he averaged an impressive 28 points and 12 rebounds per game for the Toledo Wildcats AAU team in Chicago. Remarkably, between sixth and seventh grade, he grew five inches, which brought his height to an imposing 6’7”. He played basketball for Clague Middle School in Ann Arbor, achieving the position of top player for his class in 2022 by Future150, a reputed recruiting website. He sat out his eighth grade to train individually and soon left a mark in the under-15 division of Nike Elite Youth Basketball League by averaging 17 points per game.

In high school, Bates joined Lincoln High School in Ypsilanti, Michigan. That decision was influenced by Lincoln’s head basketball coach, Jesse Davis, who had been a long-time teammate and friend of Bates’ father. Despite being a freshman, Bates debuted for Lincoln, contributing 32 points and 15 rebounds to their win over Ann Arbor Huron. He continued to impress his audiences with his performance, scoring 43 points in a game against Ypsilanti Community High School. He led his team to win regional championships against Detroit Catholic Central High School and later took the team to its first state title win over University of Detroit Jesuit High School. Bates’s performance on the field earned him Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year and MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year along with several other awards.

Having caught the attention of everyone, he appeared on the cover of the November 2019 issue of Sports Illustrated. The following year, he transferred to Ypsi Prep Academy, and got busy playing against more formidable competitions. Pouring in an average of 23 points per game, he led Yspi Prep to a record-breaking season. After his junior year, Bates made a major decision to reclassify up to the 2021 class, bypassing his senior year of high school.

Bates was a well-established five-star recruit by this point and eagerly anticipated by several NCAA Division I basketball programs. After he reopened his recruitment post his decommitment from Michigan State, he finally chose Memphis as his new home due to the presence of head coach Penny Hardaway and close friend Jalen Duren, with whom he shared a great bond.

His college debut at Memphis was marked with a season-high 17 points, however, as the season went on, Bates endured a rough patch both with his form and health. After a finger injury and a back issue, he fell in the NBA draft projections. Choosing to return home, Bates transferred to Eastern Michigan for his sophomore season.

Despite his troubles before, the NBA remained in his sights. For his outstanding contributions at Eastern Michigan, scoring 19.2 points per game in the 2022-23 season, he was named third-team All-MAC. Reenergized and ready for the next step, he declared for the NBA draft in April 2023.

His dreams were finally realized when he was picked by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2023 NBA Draft. Signed to a two-way contract, he split his time with the Cavaliers and their NBA G League affiliate, the Cleveland Charge. Now, as an NBA player, Bates continues his journey of mastery over the sport that has defined his life from an early age, fighting through adversities and rising up the ranks in professional basketball. As of August 2024, he has renewed his two-way contract with the Cavaliers, testament to his determination and resilience.