Where did Emoni Bates go to college?

Emoni Bates is an American basketball player who plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Born on January 28, 2004, Emoni Bates was a five-star prospect coming out of high school.

After a stellar freshman high school season at Lincoln Senior High School, Bates decided to transfer to Ypsi Prep Academy for his sophomore season. At Ypsi Prep, the young prodigy put up huge numbers, averaging 32.3 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Bates was named Gatorade National Player of the Year in 2020.

In the 2023 NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers selected Bates with the 49th overall pick. He is currently on a two-way contract with the franchise and splits his time between the Cavs and their G League affiliate, the Cleveland Charge.

Emoni Bates College Career

Bates played college ball for two universities — University of Memphis and Eastern Michigan. He began his college career at the University of Memphis as one of the most anticipated freshmans in the country. However, his lone season at Memphis fell short of expectations, as he averaged just 9.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game on 38.6% shooting from the field. Bates struggled with injuries and finding a consistent role on a talented Memphis Tigers team.

After one underwhelming season at Memphis, Bates decided to transfer to Eastern Michigan University, which was closer to his hometown. The move was seen as an opportunity for redemption after his freshman season struggles. In his sophomore season at Eastern Michigan, Bates improved his scoring to 19.2 points, along with 5.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. He showed flashes of the phenomenal talent that made him such a hyped prospect, including multiple 30-point games.

However, Bates' second college season was still seen as inconsistent and disappointing overall. He shot just 40.5% from the field and 33.0% from 3-point range. While he remains an intriguing NBA prospect, it could take a few seasons for Bates to develop into a consistent member on the Cavs rotation.