Top-3 recruit Emoni Bates commits to Memphis
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Emoni Bates, the third-ranked recruit in the 2021 class, committed to Memphis, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.
In addition to coach Penny Hardaway's Tigers program, Bates' short list included Michigan State, Oregon, and the G League Ignite. The Michigan-born small forward was set to join MSU before decommitting in April.
Before reclassifying, the 17-year-old Bates was the top-ranked prospect in the 2022 class. However, due to his age, he isn't eligible for the NBA draft until 2023.
Bates averaged 24.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.6 steals per game at Ypsi Prep Academy, a school created by his father, Elgin "EJ" Bates.