Is Memphis the team to beat in Emoni Bates sweepstakes?

Keep an eye on the Memphis basketball program to win the Emoni Bates sweepstakes.

With five-star forward Emoni Bates reclassifying for 2021, the Memphis basketball team appears to be the favorite to land his high-profile commitment.

Bates had originally committed to his home state’s Michigan State Spartans but decommitted from Tom Izzo’s program in April. While there is a chance he could turn pro and spend two years in the NBA G League before he’s draft-eligible, Memphis and Oregon are duking it out with Michigan State for Bates.

Of the 10 247Sports Crystal Ball picks on Bates, six have him heading to play for Penny Hardaway at Memphis.

Memphis basketball in position to land Emoni Bates’ five-star commitment

According to the 247Sports Composite, Bates is the No. 1 player from Michigan, the No. 1 small forward prospect and the No. 5 player nationally in the 2021 recruiting cycle. At 6-foot-8 and 200 pounds, the Ypsi Prep Academy standout from Ypsilanti, Michigan projects as a Paul George-level player at the professional level. Playing for a former NBA star in Hardaway would be a big plus.

While he may have some interest in Michigan State, decommitting largely signifies that he is not going to reconsider heading to East Lansing. Though Dana Altman has a strong program in Eugene, Oregon feels like an extreme dark horse to get him. Even if the G League is a very realistic option for him, it feels like Bates will spend his one year of college hoops at Memphis.

If you are a fan of Memphis basketball, you have to like your team’s chances to get Bates in 2021.

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