Local schoolboy legend Emoni Bates (he's 15!) makes cover of SI
Only mention this because his name was brought up on latest MBB recruiting post. I knew this kid was supposed to be special but they are mentioning him in the same breath as Magic and LeBron. He's from right down the road in Ypsi, but as far as Michigan goes we can probably put that idea out of mind--both he and his father say he will make the jump right to the NBA if the rules change by that time.
October 30th, 2019 at 3:02 PM ^
I thought SI was dead?
October 30th, 2019 at 3:04 PM ^
The author of the SI article is dead to most of us.
October 30th, 2019 at 3:29 PM ^
The hit piece he did on Rich Rod was awful, no doubt. Having said that, it's been ten years. Time to let it go, perhaps?
October 30th, 2019 at 3:49 PM ^
yes. yes, it is.
October 30th, 2019 at 3:56 PM ^
Especially after Rich Rod was fired at Arizona for sexual harassment and creating a hostile environment. No wonder meanies like Lloyd Carr didn't like him.
October 30th, 2019 at 4:01 PM ^
I can hold a grudge as long as I want.
October 30th, 2019 at 4:47 PM ^
Frank, you've been dead 70 years and you won't let go of life. Glass houses man...Glass houses...
October 30th, 2019 at 4:49 PM ^
In about 99% of all circumstances, I agree. Somethings, people should move on from after ten years.
But
College football is built on pettiness, and so therefore, I say, be petty.
October 30th, 2019 at 6:10 PM ^
I may be biased but fuck that 99%
October 30th, 2019 at 6:09 PM ^
Nope.
October 30th, 2019 at 4:20 PM ^
Rosenberg aside (although ten years is definitely enough time to learn what countable hours are), SI after the Maven takeover has been....well, I have not seen something fall off a cliff in terms of overall quality quite like that, at least on the whole.
October 30th, 2019 at 3:09 PM ^
Paging Brandon Brown, "He looks too young..."
Too soon?
October 30th, 2019 at 3:11 PM ^
It's actually sounding like he may reclassify down a year. Therefore, this year and next in HS...then a year in college...then NBA. In this scenario thought is MSU leads. Here's what Rosenberg said yesterday...I'll paste.
---
Of the three scenarios you outlined — turning pro after his senior year; signing with Nike next year and waiting for the 2022 draft; and reclassifying after his junior year to play one year of college ball — which do you think is most likely?
If I had to make a prediction right now, I'd say he plays two more years at Lincoln, reclassifies, and goes to Michigan State. Now, it's early, and I could be wrong. I certainly don't think anything has been decided. But here is why I believe that:
Emoni loves competition, and this path would provide better competition than staying four years at Lincoln or working out on Nike's dime for a year. He also knows how good he is. He has already kept USA Basketball at arm's length. His knees won't buckle if Mike Krzyzewski walks into his living room. The Bates family likes control, they want great coaching that will challenge Emoni, and you really have to work to earn their trust. All of those factors favor Michigan State. The campus is an hour away. MSU players are extremely close, and Tom Izzo has a reputation for pushing guys but still caring about them. MSU coaches have recruited him harder and better than anybody so far. Emoni keeps score. I think that will matter to him. But again, it's early.
---
Seems impossible he'd live up to his astronomical expectations, but will be interesting to watch his career progress.
October 30th, 2019 at 3:17 PM ^
If a college education means virtually nothing to him, then UM's pitch isn't compelling.
October 30th, 2019 at 3:21 PM ^
Neither is MSU's really. Go to MSU where one and dones go to die and you can get benched in the biggest game of the season? No one and done has any reason to go there.
October 30th, 2019 at 3:24 PM ^
To be fair, JJJ was still the 4th overall pick in the draft...and has had a good start to his career...
October 30th, 2019 at 3:28 PM ^
The dude is a physical freak and a perfect fit for the modern NBA. He was gonna be a top 5 pick no matter where he want. And hell he could've been even higher if he hadn't been benched for Ben Carter in the tournament.
October 30th, 2019 at 4:51 PM ^
You're talking hoops, Mongo was talking education.
It does get confusing when discussing big dollar college athletics, and not about to get any clearer anytime soon...
October 30th, 2019 at 3:20 PM ^
That's an interesting approach and a great idea. He's already topped out on high school competition, so one year of college ball at 17 makes a lot of sense.
Gotta believe Juwan can make some headway if that's the plan. Hell, the kid could sleep in his own bed every night. And Izzo doesn't exactly have the greatest track record of preparing guys for the pros.
October 30th, 2019 at 3:23 PM ^
MSU: the place where 5-stars go to delay their NBA dreams...for several years.
October 30th, 2019 at 3:45 PM ^
I agree with Catch-22 up there. Given that he could reclassify and be on the young side, there’s a certain allure to keeping him local. He could start his transition to adult life, but right by home so that his folks can stay quite involved.
He’s not the first youthful prodigy to come along, and in the case of the others, the quality of the organization that they went to was pivotal in their overall success as an athlete and as a human. Ideally, the organization and his folks will strongly suggest life choices (at first) that will help to keep him on the straight and narrow. For example, instead of getting his own place (typically with entourage), it could be beneficial for him to get placed with a local family, or a member of his own family as a roommate. It’s helped a couple of the young guys find their way before.
I’m sure we can all think of examples where a young player’s teammates really led him astray with too much social time etc. I hate to think what would have happened if you gave all that money and fame to 18 year old me. Or probably present me, for that matter. . .
October 30th, 2019 at 3:36 PM ^
Of course Rosenberg says it's Michigan State and totally ignores the UM ties. Once an asshat, always an asshat.
October 30th, 2019 at 3:58 PM ^
I was thinking he’s just being a lazy hack. “MSU has recruited better than UM before, therefore they always will, including in this instance.” I think the geography is in our favor (duh), and I think that Juwan is really going to play well to parents.
Also, I wonder if MSU’s challenges keeping kids out of trouble might trouble parents a wee bit. I’m not trying to say that all of their players get in trouble, but I’d understand if parents have a bit of concern about the environment. Of course, avoiding MSU doesn’t mean you have to go to UM, but in this case it could help.
October 31st, 2019 at 3:23 AM ^
I sat next to him during the ND game during Hoke's last year. I didn't let on that I knew who he was in case I got a burr up my ass and tossed him down the bleachers over his hit pieces. Regardless of his affiliations with Michigan he told me that he didn't care who won. That pretty much confirmed all my biases against him.
October 30th, 2019 at 4:40 PM ^
Who the Hell are you ldd10?
You seem to want us to believe you're awfully close to the Bates family - "Emoni keeps score"?!?!
Yeah?
October 30th, 2019 at 5:56 PM ^
Solid reading comprehension fail by you.
October 30th, 2019 at 4:56 PM ^
One thing to absolutely not discount is the connection between Emoni's father and Juwan Howard. Those two have known each other 20+ years, going back to when Juwan was at Michigan.
If he reclassifies to 2021 I think Michigan ends up more of a contender for him than Sparty.
October 30th, 2019 at 3:24 PM ^
can he make $$ off his likeness?
October 30th, 2019 at 5:27 PM ^
After all of C-Webb's pontificating* on that very topic 25+ years ago, maybe he can be the man to step up and sponsor Bates's likeness as a Wolverine.
* I don't mean that in a negative way at all, actually -- I agreed with Chris on that point then, as I do now
October 30th, 2019 at 3:36 PM ^
Recruiting landscape over next 5 years should be interesting
Boeheim (74), Coach K (72), Roy Williams (69) Rick Barnes (65) and Izzo (64) are all getting up there in age. Certainly will be some retirements and/or slippage from a few all timers that could reshape recruiting in a major way
October 30th, 2019 at 3:39 PM ^
Feels like Boeheim and Coach K may retire soon. K has had some health issues and, frankly, looks more and more tired on the sidelines. Not sure about Williams and Barnes. Izzo - seems like he's had a little more life and with a good roster over next few years and, more important, his kid now a walk-on fresh on the team...he'll hang on awhile.
October 30th, 2019 at 3:46 PM ^
Unfortunately (from a UM perspective and because he's a great coach), I tend to agree that Izzo will probably be around longest of any of the coaches I mentioned. May be good for JH and UM in the long run (iron sharpens iron and what have you).
Boeheim had previously announced his retirement, but like Izzo, he now has a son on Syracuse team. Can't imagine he will stick around much after that. Coach K I see hanging around for 2-4 more years. I also don't see Williams hanging around for much longer than that -- wouldn't be shocked if he left before Coach K. Barnes and Izzo will most likely have another 5-10 in them.
October 30th, 2019 at 3:54 PM ^
How does this "reclassification" thing work? I get how kids graduate in 3 years in college, because they load up on summer school classes and such. But how do you do that in high school? There was no path to doing anything like that at my school. I don't think anyone has ever just skipped a grade at my high school.
Clearly he needs to graduate high school in order to go to college right? So how does that work exactly?
October 30th, 2019 at 4:42 PM ^
You can take enough credits in 3 years to fulfill Michigan HS graduation requirements. I entered my senior year missing Government Class only, which was purposely taught senior year so you had to go four years. Nowadays I could take an online class the summer after my junior year and be done.
October 30th, 2019 at 4:49 PM ^
There are plenty of online options for kids to accelerate schooling and graduate high school early. Michigan has had several hockey players do that over the years(Zach Werenski, Quinn Hughes, Al Montoya, Billy Sauer, Tyler Swystun)
October 30th, 2019 at 3:58 PM ^
i'd be shocked if this kid played college ball, but also unfortunately would also be shocked if he came to the good guys. too many other programs have a long head start on building their recruiting / NBA prospect machine (duke, kentucky, unc, MSU) and it sounds like this whole family is laser-focused on him achieving greatness. even UVA has a leg up. IF juwan manages to make inroads somehow and land this kid, it will literally be the greatest recruiting victory of all time-- so I also won't be upset if bates ultimately goes elsewhere.
October 30th, 2019 at 4:03 PM ^
Greatest recruiting victory of all time?? Don't know about that. For UM - perhaps / probably -- only mitigated by the fact that he is definitely not playing more than 1 year
In that unlikely scenario, I also think Bates to Michigan would actually have more of a long-term impact on program image vs. short-term performance boost (think of Brady and football). Having an alum who may go on to become the best player on the planet and dominate the NBA for 15 years would be very nice indeed.
October 30th, 2019 at 4:12 PM ^
Agreed. Will be huge brand asset for whatever school he goes (if he goes to school) for 10-15 years in the league, and possibly beyond.
October 30th, 2019 at 4:25 PM ^
i think that's reasonable to say it would be the biggest recruiting win ever at this point, though i acknowledge it may not at all be the case in two years. no recruit has been anywhere near this hyped since lebron james, and he wasn't about to go to college.
but agreed if he did come here, it could have fab-five level cultural impact.
October 30th, 2019 at 9:04 PM ^
If the NBA is the kids goal, why wouldn’t he pick a coach who was playing in the NBA for years, and recently coached in the NBA? Juwan Howard is that guy. Coach K, Bill Self, Tom Izzo, Roy Williams have never sniffed life in the NBA
October 30th, 2019 at 9:07 PM ^
If the NBA is the kids goal, why wouldn’t he pick a coach who was playing in the NBA for years, and recently coached in the NBA? Juwan Howard is that guy. Coach K, Bill Self, Tom Izzo, Roy Williams have never sniffed life in the NBA
October 30th, 2019 at 4:01 PM ^
He won't play college ball.
October 30th, 2019 at 5:07 PM ^
For what reasons are you so certain?
Impending rule changes you're certain about?
Certain the chance to earn right to likeness $ while sitting a year more important than competition?
Explain your work
October 30th, 2019 at 7:09 PM ^
Are you still directing your nonsensical rant at me?
October 30th, 2019 at 4:19 PM ^
Is it pronounced “E-money?”
October 30th, 2019 at 5:16 PM ^
This kid is basically Danny Almonte. He's actually like 21 playing high school ball.
October 30th, 2019 at 6:27 PM ^
I actually think izzo is a good coach in a lot of aspects while failing in others. NB's game would not benefit going to MSU. Izzo does not know how to coach elite talent to make them see their potential and more. He has a military coaching style of breaking guys down to bring them back up. The thing is he tries to breakdown high level recruits who don't need that.
It sounds cliche but a team like Kentucky or Duke would better suit him. I'm very interested to see how our offense looks this year and if it will.appeal to recruits. I think Howard will have to pitch it at an angle saying that they have to imagine themselves with a PG who can actually shoot.
October 30th, 2019 at 9:00 PM ^
He’d be a perfect fit at Michigan. Coach Howard is targeting ultra talented 5 stars now. Bates doesn’t have a position and Coach Howard is talking about “position-less” basketball. Plus being a local kid, it just makes sense.
Our coach knows about playing in the NBA more than any “blue blood” coach. I think Bates is going to Michigan
October 30th, 2019 at 10:50 PM ^
odds that he ever sets foot on a college court - 0%
October 31st, 2019 at 12:09 AM ^
So...you're saying there's a chance.