Emoni Bates

NBA DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT

POSITION: SFFROM: Eastern Michigan
(Ypsilanti, MI)
HT: 6-8 1/2WT: 190
BORN: 1/28/04YEAR: So.WING: 6-7 1/4REACH: NA

Draft Notes

Emoni Bates was once considered a generational type of prospect and widely considered the top prospect in his class but his progression as a prospect has slowed and his ceiling appears to be lower than what we originally thought. He’s still a high level talent but not a sure-fire star.

After a really rough freshman season at Memphis Bates has transferred to Eastern Michigan where he’ll look to shake off the bad start to his college career and get his game back on track.

Emoni specializes at scoring the ball. He’s very capable of getting his own shot from the perimeter but doesn’t have great blow by speed or explosiveness into the lane. This can lead to inefficient shooting numbers and settling for outside shots.

His lack of overall athleticism and his lack of length (he has a negative wingspan) are major concerns as he progresses to the next level of play.

Bates is a really good ball handler and is basically a 6-8 guard with a scorer’s mentality.

Although he’s not the most powerful athlete and is still very skinny, he’s got wiry strength and takes it hard to the rim. He’s a competitor who seems to work hard and push to be the best he can be.


Comparisons

  • Brandon Boston

Draft Projection

late first to mid second round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft

Videos

https://youtu.be/2De4RXeLENc

2023 Small Forwards

  1. Brandon Miller – 6-8 – Alabama
  2. Cam Whitmore – 6-7 – Villanova
  3. Gradey Dick – 6-7 – Kansas
  4. Rayan Rupert – 6-7 – France
  5. Maxwell Lewis – 6-7 – Pepperdine
  6. Dariq Whitehead – 6-5 – Duke
  7. Leonard Miller – 6-10 – Canada
  8. Bilal Coulibaly – 6-6 – France
  9. Colby Jones – 6-6 – Xavier
  10. Jordan Walsh – 6-7 – Arkansas
  11. Julian Phillips – 6-7 – Tennessee
  12. Jalen Wilson – 6-8 – Kansas
  13. Jaime Jaquez Jr. – 6-7 – UCLA
  14. Tyler Burton – 6-7 – Richmond
  15. Emoni Bates – 6-8 1/2 – Eastern Michigan
  16. Andre Jackson – 6-6 – UConn
  17. Jalen Bridges – 6-7 – Baylor
  18. Arthur Kaluma – 6-7 – Creighton
  19. Kobe Brown – 6-8 – Missouri
  20. Jordan Miller – 6-7 – Miami
  21. Jalen Slawson – 6-7 – Furman
  22. Seth Lundy – 6-6 – Penn State
  23. Terrence Shannon Jr. – 6-7 – Illinois
  24. Matthew Mayer – 6-9 – Illinois
  25. Nathan Missia-Dio – 6-8 – Overtime Elite (Belgium)