Today Emonit Bates, the 16 year-old basketball sensation from Ypsilanti Lincoln, announced that he has chosen to attend Michigan State University, providing he choses to go to college. If he does go to college, barring any major injury, he will be a one and done. He will be in the NBA before he is 20 years old.
Growing up in River Rouge during the sixties, having season tickets at U of M Basketball starting in 1975, running a youth basketball clinic in Ypsilanti for 20 years , and being a MHSAA basketball referee for 15 years has allowed me to see so many great high school age players. From my high school days, Willie Betts, Ken Wilbur, Louis Hyatt, Park Richardson, Frank Price, Loren Pittman, Freddie Hudson, Bill Kilgore, Terry Cross, Vic Wharton, Big “D”, Rudy T, Ralph and John Brisker. I have seen Magic, Isiah, the Fab Five, Grant Hill, Shane Battier, Larry Bird, McHale, Terry Mills, the 1976 undefeated Indiana team, Kevin Love, Scott Skiles and my favorite George “Iceman” Gervin.
Of all the players that I have seen as teenagers, Emoni Bates as a 16 year old, has a greater upside than any of them. His ability to handle the ball and pass is as good as anyone I have seen at his age. His shooting range has no limits. His ability to finish around the rim and get to the line is outstanding. Although he is skinny, he is tough as nails. He has the killer instinct that all great players possess. I am not saying he is going to end up being as good as Magic, Bird, or any of the others I have mentioned. However, I can comfortably say that in my opinion, he is better as a 16 year old than any of them were as 16 year olds.
Just because Emoni is 0-2 against the River Rouge Panthers does not mean he is not a great player. Rudy T’s record against the Panthers wasn’t all that good, but he sure was.