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Emoni Bates is the best player in all of high school hoops, and now, he’s made his college decision.
On Monday, Bates announced his commitment to the Michigan State Spartans on ESPN’s SportsCenter. It was a surprising announcement, as Bates wasn’t expected to make a college/pro decision anytime soon, but he apparently was ready to end it now while making it clear that it’s no done deal he goes to college.
Important to note, Bates’ exact: "I’m not sure what the future may hold, but I will be committing to Michigan State University."
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) June 29, 2020
In addition, Bates announced he would finish his high school career at a new prep school being set up by his father.
The 6-8, 200-pound small forward from Michigan wasn’t really being recruited by anyone other than the Spartans, as the expectation is Bates will ultimately skip college and go with a professional route, perhaps the NBA G-League.
Bates, who averaged 31 points and 10 rebounds per game this past season at Lincoln High School, is ranked as the No. 1 prospect in 2022. Kentucky actually offered him a scholarship early on, but no school other than Michigan State has put much effort into recruiting Bates.
Still, this is a massive win for the Spartans if Bates ultimately decides to play college ball.
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