Emoni Bates, a young basketball prodigy, has been making waves in the world of high school basketball. From leading Ypsilanti Lincoln to the 2019 MHSAA Division 1 boy basketball state championship to being named Gatorade Michigan Player of the Year in 2019, Bates has been on a meteoric rise.
Youngest Sports Illustrated Cover Star
At just 15 years old, Bates became the youngest basketball player to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated in 2019. He continued to break records, reaching 1,000 career high school points in February 2020 and scoring an impressive 63 points with 21 rebounds in a single game that same month.
Commitment to Michigan State and Ypsi Prep Academy
Bates committed to Michigan State in June 2020 and transferred to Ypsi Prep Academy. In his Ypsi Prep debut, he faced off against Chet Holmgren, another top prospect. However, in December 2020, Holmgren moved ahead of Bates as the nation’s top prospect. Bates de-committed from Michigan State in April 2021, leaving his future open for speculation.
2023 WNBA Draft: Aliyah Boston Picked as No. 1 Overall Pick
While the focus of this article is on Emoni Bates’ journey to the NBA, it’s worth mentioning the 2023 WNBA Draft, where Aliyah Boston was picked as the No. 1 overall pick by the Indiana Fever. Other notable draft picks include Diamond Miller, Maddy Siegrist, and Stephanie Soares.
Tramon Mark Declares for NBA Draft
Another player making headlines is Houston guard Tramon Mark, who plans to enter the transfer portal and declare for the NBA draft. Mark started all 37 games for the Houston Cougars this season, averaging 10.1 points. He has been a key player for Houston for the past three seasons and helped lead the Cougars to a 1-seed in the NCAA tournament.
