![]() ![]() Nothing on the floor is or feels connected at all. They always have their hands down, seem to get bladed every single game by a simple Chin back screen in the middle of the floor for an uncontested layup, and have too many players who try to do their own thing. They gave up over 80 points per game (also the highest mark), were undersized and had no rim protection, and seemed to stop trying later in the season.įrom a coach’s standpoint, watching their games is almost painful. Opponents legitimately shot 48.4% against them this season, the highest mark yielded in the nation. The Eagles were one of the worst defensive teams I’ve ever watched at the D1 level. At his size, with his quick release, and the tremendous hip movement and fluidity, Bates has real appeal as an off-ball scorer.Ĭomplicating the eval is the defensive context Bates was in at Eastern Michigan. The fact he’s been inefficient from 3-point range overall this year (33% on 7.7 attempts) overshadows the fact that he was actually pretty good from deep on catch-and-shoots (38.5% on 3.5 attempts) and very efficient coming off screens. With the shooting touch that Bates possesses, his game does feel like it could easily transition toward a spot-up approach. They’d clear out that right offensive corner so that Emoni would be naked on that side, free to either drive or step back. He’d isolate a ton at the top of the key or on the right wing. Stan Heath and the coaching staff at EMU catered so much to putting Bates in these situations. The lack of vertical pop and short-stride steps make it difficult for Emoni to be an adequate live-dribble passer, even if he were willing and knew how to read help defenders (at this point, there’s no proof that he’s either willing or capable). ![]() He’s not a great athlete vertically, and certainly doesn’t have the physical strength to maintain his trajectory through contact. Getting into the lane and trying to finish over size doesn’t really work for him. As soon as he saw a glimmer of space coming off a pick, he’d pull a jumper - likely both what he’s wired to do and instructed by his coaches. Emoni’s ability to change speeds off the bounce doesn’t really exist right now. The defense is somehow worse to watch.īall screens don’t help matters a ton. His shot selection would make him your least-favorite guy to play pickup with. He’s short-armed for his size and doesn’t do much to put pressure on the rim. Dive into the specifics of game film and you’ll see Bates routinely show a lack of athleticism. Those numbers cause pause, but nothing causes more trepidation than the film. Eastern Michigan was really bad this year, furthering his complications. He has a below-average TS%, a severely negative assist-to-turnover ratio, and one of the lower assist rates (9.2%) you’ll find for a primary scorer. Bates’ production has been hit-or-miss he scored in single-digits on five occasions - three of which saw him take 10 or more attempts. ![]() ![]() Dig a little deeper and the problems start to come up. On the surface, scouts and pro teams should be salivating over that type of upside and impact at such a young age. He averaged 19.2 points per game, shot 47.4% from inside the arc as a perimeter player, and had four games with 30 or more points - two of which came against high-major competition. A fascinating, winding, up-and-down road has led Bates back home to Ypsilanti as a sophomore, where he’s still freshman-aged and holding an abundance of talent. To us, the most polarizing prospect in the class is Eastern Michigan’s Emoni Bates. Others might mention the Thompson Twins and the difficulties of the Overtime Elite program. When the word ‘polarizing’ comes to mind in the 2023 draft class, some scouts will bring up GG Jackson. ![]()
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