By JACOB POLACHECK
Emoni Bates, the No. 2 ranked player in the class of 2022, has reclassified to the 2021 class and is down to four options, per Joe Tipton of On3Sports.
Bates, the 6-foot-9, 200-pound small forward from Ypsi Prep (MI) Academy and the Bates Fundamentals AAU Program, is down to Oregon, Memphis, Michigan State and the NBA G League.
Bates decommitted from Michigan State in April.
Bates is friends and former teammates with No. 1 overall prospect Jalen Duren, who is set to make his decision Friday. Both players have Memphis on their list.
He cut Overtime Elite and the Australian NBL among pro options, and, Baylor and Miami among college options from his previous list.
Hyped early as the next Kevin Durant when he appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, Bates hasn’t quite lived up to that so far but remains a very talented player.
Bates went for 22 points while leading Bates Fundamental to a win over Bronny James and Strive for Greatness on July 22 during the Nike EYBL Peach Jam before finishing 35 points and six rebounds in a loss to Nightrydas the following day.
Bates won’t be eligible for the NBA Draft until 2023 so will spend the next two seasons at one of the above locations.
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