Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
Emoni Bates, Ypsi Prep slated to face Coronado without Jaden Hardy, who is done with high school hoops
By ADAM ZAGORIAEmoni Bates and Ypsi Prep (MI) will play Coronado (NV) on national television on Saturday night, but Jaden Hardy won’t be there.
The 6-4 Hardy, the No. 2-ranked player in the Class of 2021, per ESPN.com, announced he “will no longer be playing high school” this season due to the pandemic’s impact on high school basketball in Nevada. He holds offers from Kentucky, Arizona, Arizona State and UCLA, among others, but could also opt to go pro next season.
There will be no Emoni Bates vs. Jaden Hardy matchup this weekend. A statement from Hardy regarding the remainder of his high school season. pic.twitter.com/IXj4sIVeQC
The game will air Saturday at 9 p.m. on FS1. Green and Gold Level Sports & Entertainment is sponsoring The Battle Basketball Showcase at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
The original game between Ypsi Prep and Sierra Canyon was set to take place Nov. 20 in Mansfield, TX, but was postponed due to COVID concerns.
Ypsi Prep will play as “Bates Fundamentals” on Saturday.
The 6-foot-9 Bates is the No. 1 player in the Class of 2022 and is committed to Michigan State. He could opt to reclassify to 2021, his father said Wednesday.
Because he turns 17 Jan. 28 and won’t turn 19 until 2023, he couldn’t enter the NBA Draft until then. Bates is averaging 27 points and eight rebounds this season.
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Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
