Here are a few analyses: (yikes)
Just what we need…poor character.….a defensive sieve and can’t shoot…perfect
March 9, 2023
Bates wasn't able to get Eastern Michigan into the MAC tournament, as his team went 5-13 in conference play and 8-23 overall, meaning his season ended March 3. Bates had some moments, dropping a combined 66 points against South Carolina and Michigan, but was more or less a net negative in conference play He posted a paltry 49% true shooting percentage with far more turnovers than assists and while being a sieve defensively, often looking like he was barely trying while playing selfish basketball.
This probably wasn't what NBA scouts or Bates envisioned when he elected to transfer from Memphis last spring, and he has work ahead of him now to be a sure-fire draft pick if he enters. Standing 6-9 and having just turned 19 years old in late January, Bates' tough shot-making prowess and overall scoring instincts hold some appeal, but he plays such a losing brand of basketball on both ends of the floor, making him a relatively tough sell. -- Jonathan Givony
Oct 4, 2022
Emoni Bates, previously the No. 33 prospect in our 2023 mock in June, is now off our projection altogether following his arrest for carrying a concealed weapon and "altering ID marks" on a firearm and subsequent suspension from Eastern Michigan. The 18-year-old is coming off a disappointing, injury-plagued freshman season at Memphis that resulted in his decision to transfer closer to home. Should his legal issues be cleared and he successfully returns to the court and shows glimpses of what made him such a highly touted prospect entering college, he'll likely receive strong consideration in future iterations. -- Jonathan Givony