Emoni Bates Declares for 2023 NBA Draft; Eastern Michigan SF Was a 5-Star Recruit

Eastern Michigan forward Emoni Bates, a former 5-star recruit, has declared himself eligible for the 2023 NBA draft.

Bates told Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium of his intention to forgo his final two seasons of college eligibility.

Originally considered a one-and-done lock, Bates struggled mightily during one season at Memphis before transferring to Eastern Michigan. His play improved after returning back home, with Bates averaging 19.2 points and 5.8 rebounds, but he did not dominate the MAC the way many hoped and Eastern Michigan went just 8-23.

Bates is now considered a borderline draft pick—not just in the first round but to be drafted entirely. ESPN currently has Bates going with the No. 57 overall pick and has him No. 56 in their rankings; B/R's Jonathan Wasserman does not have Bates listed as a 2023 draft pick.

"He's a talented offensive player who right now is a 2nd-round pick," one NBA executive told Adam Zagoria of Forbes. "Risky, but worth the risk."

As it stands, Bates will have a chance to rise over the course of the draft process and it's possible he winds up returning to school if he does not get the evaluation he desires. There's little chance Bates will wind up being able to return to first-round status, but the talent is tantalizing enough that he could wind up a high second-round pick and guarantee himself millions.

Working in Bates' favor is the fact he was the youngest player in college basketball as a freshman and just turned 19 years old in January. His decision to reclassify himself ultimately proved to be a major mistake, but there's still a chance for a turnaround.