Eastern Michigan Eagles forward Emoni Bates Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

Former No. 1 overall recruit Emoni Bates has entered the 2023 NBA Draft

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated 4/24/23

Emoni Bates is a very intriguing NBA prospect. He has the talent to be a superstar but his journey since being the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2021 class has been up and down -- to say the least.

He's potentially the ultimate boom-or-bust NBA draft prospect, but either way, he'll now get the opportunity to find out exactly what NBA teams think about him.

Bates, pointing to a report from Shams Charania, announced on social media that he's declaring for the 2023 NBA Draft. He called his pursuit of an NBA career "what [he's] been dreaming for my whole life".

EMONI BATES is declaring for the NBA Draft!

Check out the highlights of him scoring 29 STRAIGHT POINTS in a half & finishing with 43 (15/23 FG)

(Via @Frankie_Vision)

pic.twitter.com/H6RAcvOPn2
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) April 24, 2023

Bates averaged 19.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game this season at Eastern Michigan. Notably, he put up 30 in an early-season clash with Michigan and 36 in a late December matchup with South Carolina. He also scored 29 straight points in a loss against Toledo. That game saw him finish with a career-high 43 points.

That's the good, and the good is very good.

The bad?

Bates averaged just 9.7 points in 18 games in his first college season, an injury-shortened stint at Memphis. He was also charged in September of 2022 with two felonies: carrying a concealed weapon and "altering ID marks". He plead those charges down to a misdemeanor gun charge in December and was sentenced to 18 months of probation.

Still, his college coach, Stan Heath, believes there is much more good than bad ahead for Bates.

"I'm excited for Emoni and his future," Heath said, per ESPN. "He is a talented young player who works extremely hard and is passionate to be successful. I know he will continue to improve and mature as he continues the journey. There is no question his best basketball is ahead, and I support him on his decision."

It will be interesting to see where Bates ends up. Undoubtedly, he has the talent to be a lottery pick.

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