NC State forward Manny Bates out for season with dislocated shoulder

The worst fears were realized Friday when the program confirmed Bates will be sidelined for the rest of the 2021-22 season with a right shoulder dislocation. 

"I'm just heartbroken," head coach Kevin Keatts said in a statement shared by Jeff Borzello of ESPN. "I'm heartbroken for Manny because he's overcome so much to become the incredible player he is. He does everything the right way. He doesn't take shortcuts. He's a prime example of everything I want an NC State basketball player to be on and off the court. I know Manny has the work ethic and positive mental attitude to come back from this. I know he'll come back stronger and I know Manny's best basketball is still ahead of him."

Bates led the ACC in blocks with 2.93 per game in 2019-20 and remained atop that category in the conference by averaging 2.7 blocks the following campaign. He also averaged 9.8 points and 5.9 rebounds last season. 

Per Jonas Pope IV of The News & Observer, sophomore Ebenezer Dowuona could be asked to start in Bates' absence as soon as Saturday's matchup versus the Colgate Raiders. Dowuona played in nine games last season and tallied only five total points. 

"I thought he (Dowuona) rebounded the ball very well and that is what we wanted from him," Keatts told reporters shortly after Tuesday's victory. "I have been very critical of EB, talking about how I need him to become a better rebounder. He did a tremendous job. He’s a guy that didn’t play last year and only totaled eight rebounds and two blocks. Tonight he had 10 rebounds and two blocks. This is new for him. Him and Jaylon [Gibson] I thought did their job and did a good job coming in. We are not asking those guys to score right now and so they are doing a good job rebounding the basketball for us."