We have another ‘phenom’ who should be one of the most exciting prospects in the years to come – Emoni Bates.
Emoni Bates is not just the No. 1 prospect in the 2022 class — he's the best prospect in high school basketball right now, and he has been anointed as a legitimate generational prospect.
(E+) https://t.co/Cf4n0Bk5rH pic.twitter.com/0RbqhNKmuG
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 7, 2019
The 15-year-old Bates, who is playing high-school basketball at Lincoln High School in Michigan, is a 6-foot-8 forward ranked as the top prospect in the class of 2022. The native of Ypsilanti, Michigan, led his high-school team to its first state title last season. He impressed at the Nike Peach Jam amateur showcase in July, averaging 32.3 points, 10 rebounds and four assists per game.
“In the best freshman conversation, he’s 1,” a youth basketball expert told ESPN.com. “He’s better than LeBron as a freshman. Bron was good, real good. Emoni is dominant.”
“He has a chance to be ahead of LeBron. I’ve never seen a better freshman,” a scout said. “He’s a prospect that’s dominant as a ninth-grader. That’s rare. Normally prospects are guys with high upside or potential that you haven’t fulfilled. His potential is high, but he’s doing it now.”
One person even claimed that Bates could’ve even been No. 1 this year ahead of the top pick from the 2019 NBA Draft, Zion Williamson. People around this young fellow see what he’s going to bring to the NBA once he makes it there. Comparisons with James, Kevin Durant, and other superstars aren’t strange for him. However, we will have to wait until he makes it to the NBA and see if he’s able to fulfill his potential and become the superstar everyone anticipates him to be.
