Eastern Michigan Athletics
Emoni Bates Set for 2023 NBA Draft
6/21/2023 1:09:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Eagle standout will look to be one of 58 names called in Brooklyn, June 22
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The 2023 NBA Draft presented by State Farm will be held Thursday, June 22, with Eastern Michigan University standout Emoni Bates among the hopefuls to hear their name called from the stage inside the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. The annual two round event will start at 8 p.m. and air live on ABC and ESPN with the 30 teams set to make 58 total selections.
Bates, a former No. 1 high school recruit and two-time national high school player of the year, will look to become the 15th Eastern Michigan player drafted and the first since 1998 when the San Antonio Spurs selected Derrick Dial with the 52nd pick in 1998 draft. If Bates is selected Thursday night, he would also become just the third Eagle taken in the two-round format (since 1989), joining Dials and Marcus Kennedy, who went to the Portland Trail Blazers with the 54th pick in 1991.
In May, Bates began his move toward the professional ranks when he was invited to and participated in the 2023 NBA Draft Combine presented by Microsoft Surface. The multi-day event, which was held in Chicago, saw Bates excel in shooting off the dribble (83.3 percent) and the three-point star drill (76 percent), which was the second-best mark among combine attendees. Along with standard measurements taken, Bates participated in a pair of 5-on-5 scrimmages in which he averaged 10.5 points, 205 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 1.5 blocks in 19.0 minutes.
Throughout the process, Bates has been projected to be a second-round draft selection this year with an average of the major mock drafts online slotting him in the 52nd position, which is currently held by the Phoenix Suns. Several publications have Bates projected to be drafted higher, including Yahoo Sports (No. 46 to the Memphis Grizzlies), Sports Illustrated (No. 47 to the Los Angeles Lakers), USA Today (No. 49 to the Cleveland Cavaliers), and ESPN (No. 51 to the Brooklyn Nets). Bates' hometown team, the Detroit Pistons, have two selections in this year's draft, including the No. 5 and No. 31 selections.
Bates, the lone MAC player invited to the combine last month, was an All-MAC Third Team selection following the 2022-23 season with the Eagles as he led the charge with 19.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game with his point average ranking 39th nationally and third in the MAC. He tallied 577 points, including 76 from behind the arc, which ranked fifth in a single season in program history.
An offensive standout, Bates dropped a career-high 43 points at Toledo, Jan 24, including scoring 29 consecutive points in the first half of the contest. Additionally, in the game, he drained 15 shots, including nine triples, the ninth-most in a single game in program history. Bates, who scored at least 20 points 11 times, including 30 in his first game with the Eagles against then No. 22 Michigan, and scored 30+ in four contests. Prior to his 43-point eruption, he scored a then-career-high 36 points at South Carolina, Dec. 30, where he hit eight three-point shots as well.
Season Tickets Are On Sale
Season tickets for the upcoming 2023-24 Eastern Michigan University basketball campaign are now on sale! With prices starting at less than $10 per game, the Eagles are ready to take flight inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. Thanks to your support, average attendance more than doubled from the previous year and we want to see all of you back when we tip-off again in November!
When you return to the GameAbove Center, you will see and feel noticeable improvements to the gameday experience beginning with installation of Wi-Fi and upgraded 5G service throughout the arena. In addition, the video board upgrades will be completed to make the in-game atmosphere even better for fans in attendance. And this year, come to games showing your Eastern pride as all fans will receive a free clear tote bag with their purchase of season tickets.
To purchase yours now, visit EMUEagles.com/Tickets or contact the EMU Ticket Office at 734.487.3669.
Follow Us
For the most up-to-date information on the Eagles, visit EMUEagles.com. Fans can also follow the team on social media, including Twitter (@EMU_MBB) and Instagram (@EMUMBB).
EMU's All-Time NBA Draft Selections (14)
1970 - Earle Higgins - San Francisco Warriors - No. 36 (Round 3, Pick 2)
1970 - Harvey Marlatt - Detroit Pistons - No. 224 (Round 16, Pick 2)
1971 - Kenny McIntosh - Chicago Bulls - No. 15 (Round 1, Pick 15)
1972 - Dwaine Dillard - Baltimore Bullets - No. 89 (Round 6, Pick 9)
1973 - Lendell Reason - Portland Trail Blazers - No. 123 (Round 8, Pick 3)
1974 - George Gervin - Phoenix Suns - No. 40 (Round 3, Pick 4)
1977 - Bob Riddle - Cleveland Cavaliers - No. 141 (Round 7, Pick 10)
1980 - Kevin Blakely - Kansas City Kings - No. 108 (Round 5, Pick 16)
1983 - Marlow McLain - Detroit Pistons - No. 192 (Round 9, Pick 8)
1985 - Fred Cofield - New York Knicks - No. 73 (Round 4, Pick 3)
1985 - Vincent Giles - Detroit Pistons - No. 133 (Round 6, Pick 17)
1988 - Grant Long - Miami Heat - No. 33 (Round 2, Pick 8)
1991 - Marcus Kennedy - Portland Trail Blazers - No. 54 (Round 2, Pick 27)
1998 - Derrick Dial - San Antonio Spurs - No. 52 (Round 2, Pick 23)
Bates, a former No. 1 high school recruit and two-time national high school player of the year, will look to become the 15th Eastern Michigan player drafted and the first since 1998 when the San Antonio Spurs selected Derrick Dial with the 52nd pick in 1998 draft. If Bates is selected Thursday night, he would also become just the third Eagle taken in the two-round format (since 1989), joining Dials and Marcus Kennedy, who went to the Portland Trail Blazers with the 54th pick in 1991.
In May, Bates began his move toward the professional ranks when he was invited to and participated in the 2023 NBA Draft Combine presented by Microsoft Surface. The multi-day event, which was held in Chicago, saw Bates excel in shooting off the dribble (83.3 percent) and the three-point star drill (76 percent), which was the second-best mark among combine attendees. Along with standard measurements taken, Bates participated in a pair of 5-on-5 scrimmages in which he averaged 10.5 points, 205 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 1.5 blocks in 19.0 minutes.
Throughout the process, Bates has been projected to be a second-round draft selection this year with an average of the major mock drafts online slotting him in the 52nd position, which is currently held by the Phoenix Suns. Several publications have Bates projected to be drafted higher, including Yahoo Sports (No. 46 to the Memphis Grizzlies), Sports Illustrated (No. 47 to the Los Angeles Lakers), USA Today (No. 49 to the Cleveland Cavaliers), and ESPN (No. 51 to the Brooklyn Nets). Bates' hometown team, the Detroit Pistons, have two selections in this year's draft, including the No. 5 and No. 31 selections.
Bates, the lone MAC player invited to the combine last month, was an All-MAC Third Team selection following the 2022-23 season with the Eagles as he led the charge with 19.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game with his point average ranking 39th nationally and third in the MAC. He tallied 577 points, including 76 from behind the arc, which ranked fifth in a single season in program history.
An offensive standout, Bates dropped a career-high 43 points at Toledo, Jan 24, including scoring 29 consecutive points in the first half of the contest. Additionally, in the game, he drained 15 shots, including nine triples, the ninth-most in a single game in program history. Bates, who scored at least 20 points 11 times, including 30 in his first game with the Eagles against then No. 22 Michigan, and scored 30+ in four contests. Prior to his 43-point eruption, he scored a then-career-high 36 points at South Carolina, Dec. 30, where he hit eight three-point shots as well.
Season Tickets Are On Sale
Season tickets for the upcoming 2023-24 Eastern Michigan University basketball campaign are now on sale! With prices starting at less than $10 per game, the Eagles are ready to take flight inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. Thanks to your support, average attendance more than doubled from the previous year and we want to see all of you back when we tip-off again in November!
When you return to the GameAbove Center, you will see and feel noticeable improvements to the gameday experience beginning with installation of Wi-Fi and upgraded 5G service throughout the arena. In addition, the video board upgrades will be completed to make the in-game atmosphere even better for fans in attendance. And this year, come to games showing your Eastern pride as all fans will receive a free clear tote bag with their purchase of season tickets.
To purchase yours now, visit EMUEagles.com/Tickets or contact the EMU Ticket Office at 734.487.3669.
Follow Us
For the most up-to-date information on the Eagles, visit EMUEagles.com. Fans can also follow the team on social media, including Twitter (@EMU_MBB) and Instagram (@EMUMBB).
EMU's All-Time NBA Draft Selections (14)
1970 - Earle Higgins - San Francisco Warriors - No. 36 (Round 3, Pick 2)
1970 - Harvey Marlatt - Detroit Pistons - No. 224 (Round 16, Pick 2)
1971 - Kenny McIntosh - Chicago Bulls - No. 15 (Round 1, Pick 15)
1972 - Dwaine Dillard - Baltimore Bullets - No. 89 (Round 6, Pick 9)
1973 - Lendell Reason - Portland Trail Blazers - No. 123 (Round 8, Pick 3)
1974 - George Gervin - Phoenix Suns - No. 40 (Round 3, Pick 4)
1977 - Bob Riddle - Cleveland Cavaliers - No. 141 (Round 7, Pick 10)
1980 - Kevin Blakely - Kansas City Kings - No. 108 (Round 5, Pick 16)
1983 - Marlow McLain - Detroit Pistons - No. 192 (Round 9, Pick 8)
1985 - Fred Cofield - New York Knicks - No. 73 (Round 4, Pick 3)
1985 - Vincent Giles - Detroit Pistons - No. 133 (Round 6, Pick 17)
1988 - Grant Long - Miami Heat - No. 33 (Round 2, Pick 8)
1991 - Marcus Kennedy - Portland Trail Blazers - No. 54 (Round 2, Pick 27)
1998 - Derrick Dial - San Antonio Spurs - No. 52 (Round 2, Pick 23)
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