Memphis forward Emoni Bates has entered the transfer portal following his freshman season, he announced on social media Saturday.
"I'd like to thank Coach Penny (Hardaway), my teammates and the entire coaching staff at the University of Memphis for giving me the opportunity to be a Tiger," Bates wrote on Instagram. "Thank you Tiger Nation for embracing me."
A five-star recruit in the 2021 class, Bates averaged 9.7 points and 3.3 rebounds in 18 games. He was once the top prospect in 2022 before reclassifying to 2021. Bates, a native of Ypsilanti, Mich., had previously committed to Michigan State but decommitted in April 2021, reopened his recruitment and then chose Memphis.
In his lone season with the Tigers, he missed the last 12 games of the regular season because of a back injury and returned in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Tigers were 11-8 at the time of Bates' last appearance in the regular season. Memphis closed the season by winning 10 of its final 12 games, playing its way into the NCAA Tournament as a No. 9 seed. Gonzaga eliminated the Tigers in the second round.
(Photo: Petre Thomas / USA TODAY Sports)
Why is he leaving Memphis?
Brendan Quinn, senior college basketball writer: This was never the fit anyone wanted it to be. And few envisioned any chance of him returning to the program next season.
Bates committed to Memphis thinking he was going to be converted into a point guard by Hardaway. It was far-fetched from the jump. Bates is a 3-and-D slasher. He's not a point guard. He can pass — has that ability — but he's never been a pass-first player and likely will never be. That's not his game and there was always a degree of baked-in delusion that he could learn to play point in a single preseason and step in and do it.
Now he'll test the market — both in fit and NIL options — and see if there's a fresh start available.
Does this hurt the Tigers?
Quinn: Memphis was plainly better with Bates out of the lineup last year. The numbers don't lie. The Tigers played their best ball of season in the back half of the schedule once Bates was out with back issues.
His departure doesn't hurt Memphis. Does the failed experiment — the No. 1 player in the class of 2022 being a piece that never fit — reflect poorly on Hardaway and the program? Unlikely.
Potential landing spots for Bates
Quinn: Immediately, thoughts have to wander home. Bates was previously committed to Michigan State before decommitting and pledging to Memphis. Now some will wonder if East Lansing is a possibility again. I don't see it. Nor do I see Michigan as a plausible landing spot.
Frankly, it'll be fascinating to see what kind of interest Bates draws as a transfer. On one hand, he's clearly talented and has NBA upside. On the other hand, many in the game see all the noise around Bates as a potential deterrent. Will the best programs in the country look to get involved or is Bates going to find an unexpected market? Is the G League still an option? We shall see.
