What Happened to this “Number 1” NBA pick? 

The NBA world needs to stop hyping players before they even step foot into the NBA. Andrew Wiggins, Ben Simmons, and Zion Williamson were all supposed to be the next LeBron James!

When he decided to leave high school at 17 I stated I hated the idea he needed to physically mature a year.

Initially I gave emoni no slack because he should have known that college basketball is 10 times more physical and harder than high school ball but the way he was brought up in basketball was setting him up for failure. I hope he can get better next season because at that point he will have no excuse what so ever if he makes no improvement. I'm a believer in that once you start playing basketball at the college level, age is no longer an excuse on why you cant adapt. Once in a generational type players are able to adapt to any style of play no matter the circumstances and this is also another problem. hyping up a 15 year old kid and comparing him to Kevin Durant is not good because a guy like Durant is so rare that he is the only one to my knowledge

This happening all the time is why it might actually be one of the most impressive things about LeBron's career that he had all these unrealistic expectations since that young and actually exceeded them. That's almost impossible when you consider the amount of pressure

I’ve met Emoni a few times. He’s from my city. He just had to get in the right mindset. He’s young, and a lot of us are behind him on his journey. He just transferred to my alma mater so hopefully they can get him right over there.

Louisville was the team closest to getting him, but he was holding off his commitment a lot longer than he was supposed too then they started leaning off. I really don’t think his circle has his best interests

I'M JUST HERE TO SAY HE'S A CAVALIER 🤭

I’m a huge tigers fan and watched him a lot last year, he wasn’t ready for top level college talent and not being the one with the keys to the offense messed up his game. I hope he figures it out in Michigan but his father has been giving him terrible advice. I’m glad he went somewhere closer to home.

I’m so sad that he fell from grace like that. I really wanted to see him play

Not surprising, a white man telling a black dad that he shouldn’t talk to his son about generational wealth at the age of 15 when he clearly see the possibility is high for him to obtain that is pretty crazy to me. Bates will be in the league, he might not end up going no. 1 but that’s ok. 15 is a perfect age to start talking to your child about financial security, wealth & even generational wealth if you truly believe in them. Look at Tatum & his mom for example, he didn’t just decide to do that out of no where.

Emoni Bates is a great player and prospect! Let's give him space and time to grow! The best is yet to come!

For the record, no one hated on Wiggins bc he didn’t live up to GOAT status. People were frustrated with him bc he wasn’t good at the things he could have been excellent at like perimeter defense. Wiggins was also one the faces for empty stats when he was on the Wolves. Then you have the Jimmy Butler calling him and Towns soft situation which was harsh but turned out to be true bc those guys aren’t team leaders. Going to Golden State both created and saved that mans legacy

I remember watching this dude at a highschool game couple years ago, he was a damn beast. sad to see whats happening to him

Great video and amazing story. I think Lavar is one of the best "nba dads" ever, considering all of his sons were playing in the league, and 2 of them are probably set for life

Love the vids

This is what happens when you let the gift go to your head. All time greats keep working and improving, hyping up a kid from 12-13 leads to this. Sad reality 🤦‍♂️

He 17 playing 22 year old plus the NBA set up different then college ball he’ll be a star in the league!

He will eventually be fine sometimes da creator takes ppl through obstacles but it's on emoni to handle adversity n use this as fuel to rise above slander. In time we will let his play determine his future NBA dreams

great piece mate

He got that yee yee ass haircut and the rest is history

Oooh I love your take and opinion on this situation!!!! I’m new here and you deserve a sub. Anyways I live here in Memphis and it’s not a secret here but Emoni should blame himself and his dad because this kid is so spoiled and feels so entitled. He quit on the team he never had a back problem, he actually quit school and went home, Penny gave him the opportunity and started him as a 17 year old freshman over guys who been with Penny since East High. I hope he got a wake up call when no school wanted him after he put his name in the portal. That wasn’t a rumor that’s a fact.

What happens is, they're all usually freakishly big so when going up against average highschoolers they'll dominate and look like giannis but when they make college where everyone is there size there true skill level starts to show.

This was a great honest video.

I didnt follow sports illustrated or pre draft hype... so I would never had known now I know all about the hype! Fueling the pressure baby!

Any media outlets who puts out that kind of pressure on kids should be finned very hard They get away with everything they say ruining peoples life and career

That basketball 🏀 grind is real 📊 I hope bro figure it out 👽🖖🏽📊

Don't underestimate what NIL had to do with him picking Eastern. They actually have some backers willing to put some marketing money into the program. The other schools may not have had this organized or the numbers were simply low based on how much the luster has worn off on him.

I mean how are you 6’9 but only having a 6’7 wingspan? That’s just unheard of

you do best video bro

He’s going to make it 💯

Atleast this ain't as bad as julian newman, he was a disaster. But still another cautionary tale for young prospects everywhere.

Awesome job Casey! This is why I subscribe!👍🏾

Who’s here after the news broke out a gun was found in his car 🤔

Cade Cunningham was hyped too but he is a classy player and did things the right way. Young players could learn alot from that dude!

NBA comparison hurt. I remember Harold Miner.

chill emoni is so young and talented, he will be for sure a phenomenal player

Watching this video now makes me wonder about all the hype around Wemby

Emoni Bates simply wasn't good enough. The scouts who were ready to pencil him in as the next Kevin Durant were wrong as well as those who stated that he is a better prospect than Victor Wembanyama. The hype surrounding Emoni Bates was just too much and he simply did not live up to those lofty expectations.

bro just proved all the people wrong by being the 2nd round pick of the draft dropping his stock and outplaying basically more than half the 1st round of the 2023 draft. This guy's gon be special and quite underrated see u guys when hes a superstar in a year or so

I still remember years ago Kendrick Perkins on ESPN bring him up every other day when he had the chance

YOU WILL JUST APPRECIATE LEBRON EVEN MORE BECAUSE HE LIVED UP TO THE HYPE SINCE HE WAS A KID AND UNTIL NOW HE IS STILL CONSIDERED THE BEST IN THE WORLD IN HIS 2OTH SEASON, WHICH IS MUCH LONGER YEARS THAN WHEN HE ENTERED THE LEAGUE AT 18 YEARS OLD. HE PUT HIMSELF IN A POSITION THAT MADE HIM RICH WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND THE RIGHT DECISIONS. NOW HE IS A BILLIONAIRE JUST LIKE JORDAN THAT SHIT IS STILL THE BEST ACCOMPLISHMENT YOU EVER HOPED FOR FOR A ATHLETE. UNTIL NOW NO ONE HAS SURPASSED LEBRON AS A HIGH SCHOOL PHENOM WHO IS MAKING A CASE TO BECOME THE GREATEST.

When he decided to leave high school at 17 I stated I hated the idea he needed to physically get a year or 2

I’ve followed him on social for a year or two. He will be in the draft next year. But he needs to realize he has the chance to make ten times what the guys he’s looking up to make.

I have no idea how to develop players so I’m sure I’m wrong but I feel like a good approach would be changing his position to an oversized SG. Only SG that’d be as tall as him is Paul George. His wingspan wouldn’t matter as much if everyone guarding him is 3 inches smaller

I like how you broke this down

He will be good! Eastern Michigan will build his confidence!

Hope emoni at least makes the league. Would really suck for him to not make it to the league but he really hasn’t shown any reason to be drafted and if anything have sparked controversies that make him seem like more of a problem to have on your team

This thumbnail will give me nightmares

It's pretty crazy how rare it is for an early predicted prodigy to actually live up to the hype they're given, LeBron is the only one in the last 20 years and that was way back in 2003, that shows how rare it is, whether they give the players that kind of hype in high school or college, nobody lives up to being the next big thing

I think making Bates skip a year to go straight to college was a bad idea. Considering right from the go he couldn't be be a one and done because of his age. You can clearly see the difference in body size. If he's already having back problems it also shows in his posture when he walks being that skinny copy games big strong 21-year-olds and you're only 17. That screws you up. That being said he is only 18. So it's definitely not too late

Social media hype has really helped put the world on notice of young stars that aren’t being seen, but it can also hurt if the hype gets to these young prospects heads also puts too much spotlight on kids being kids everything like teenage mistakes being scrutinized. Hopefully emoni can get back to work and turn things back around praying for him 🫡

Who remembers the emoni bates rebuilds on 2k

This is why most NBA superstars where barely noticed in highschool or college they didn't have any pressure on them to be the next coming of mj or some be compared to a NBA super star

this just makes me respect lebron more.

Now Jaden Aikens is at MSU & Emoni at Eastern. How the tables turn.

As a man born and raised in Memphis Tennessee and Tiger alum …this hurts to see because his stock dropped and it falls back on Penny (according to children-not level headed adults)

He just threw his life away. He got arrested and charged with two felonies over a gun..

This seems extremely common with people that peak at a very young age, even in other things non-sport related like music or chess. They're prodigy's at 8, peak at 15, and never really get to levels they were expected to.

I knew he was in trouble when his team played Chet Holmgren in high school. Holmgren gave Emoni and his squad all they could handle. I saw a different level of ability between the two players.

Wow I was still thinking dude was going #1 next year before this video 😂

This makes me sad, big fan of this guy smh. I blame his father but I still have faith it’s not too late. 💯

Dude was a Senior in college relax I think he will be way better this year.

when i followed him on ig yrs ago, he didnt seem like person with a level head or good people around him tbh, but i dont know shit, just a strong impression i got from his socials

was i the only one that seen wiggins kick dude in the nuts when he dunked😂😂😭

Now he got caught wit a gun

His fall from grace might be the best thing that happened to him... Now he is maturing better due to less hype and drama surrounding him. He will still end up a good player.

He will be fine. Everyone goes their different routes.

They didn't skip college, the Marinovich,comparisons are way off. The Memphis Tigers played better when all the other injured players came back. Not just because Bates was out of the lineup

Sometimes too much hype surrounding them will make their game worse and that's exactly what happened to Emoni.

Gotta wait until 11th/ 12th grade to mention any youth. The 8th grade summer break period... before 9th grade starts in H.S ... that summer growth spurt for some... unbelievable. So many youths grow after 8th grade. That 3 month summer break... youths can grow from 5' 6" to 6' 2" it's crazy.... and the elevation in skill sets will increase in some from an 8th grade level to 12th grade... but it's still not about height.. it's a solid mental focus, heart, strength, stamina, skills... that order... missing 1 out of that list... there is a future of flame out.' That order list will make the next 1% get to the highest level.

At 2:19 I think you mixed up the approach and standing vertical. His standing vertical is 24.5 inches which isn’t bad for someone that’s 6’9 and his running approach is still pretty good too. His wingspan is a little short for someone that height but I don’t think it’s that much of a big deal

He’s gonna be OK. Im still expecting him to be in the first round!

Honestly what makes LeBron ability to overcome the most hype we literally ever seen is just insane.

I'm 5'9 and I have same size hands as Emoni at 6'9, thats craaazy.

They need to let these kids grow up first they know these are kids let them have fun and be kids!! This also the reason why college development is important

Nah, i disagree. He wanted to play basketball at a high level, he has to be used to the pressure. He felt it, and he crumbled. Maybe ESPN was premature in saying he's the next GOAT, but Emoni should have worked his ass off to make it a reality. It also didn't help that his dad picked his competition to make him look good, so when faced with actually good players in the NCAA, he sputtered.

live in the same city, played my HS team and he went crazy😂😂

Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram were like this. Just keep working and stop social media and other habits that dont get you closer to your goals.

lol his dad was just licking his chops

So happy, we, Pistons fans, got Jalen Duren

Nice.

He making league fasho

Having the same vertical leap as Tom Brady is the funniest thing I have ever heard

He is good and still could make the nba but he and the rest of these young guys need to be patient and go to school and play and learn everyone is not a 1 and done or a go straight to the NBA or g league player trust the process

I would love emoni bates in the second round as a magic But as of right now it’s BIG LO/P5 TIME right now 💯💰

First of all… why do people do this to children? Why do people think they can see talent to that extreme degree in children? Draft picks with lots more track record seem hit and miss. Uggh. But EMU was my first college and a guy who grew up down the road from me (Scott Westbrook) was the star on that EMU team. It was hardly a big time school and still isn’t. We made the tournament one year (88 maybe?) and I skipped class to watch the early game. None of that mattered at all except I remembered my freshman year at Eastern. I had a good time there.

He went into 2k and sold every game only averaging 2 points that’s what happened

He will still make it to the NBA. That's the number one goal. Give em a break also how is it his last year in college he only 18?

Every Time a kid has one bad season we tend to call them bust

He is still easily gonna make the nba

He actually started really good...but u could tell it was separation on the team...id see him wide open on fast breaks and they would pass him thr ball

lmao nah dis thumbnail crazy

It’s so funny cause Andrew Wiggins never had a bad year but his comparisons to greats really made it seem like he was a bust.

Emoni got humbled. Not that he doesn't have the talent, I think it's the mindset. He needs to mature mentally or he will be playing overseas.

I really like your channel, but please straighten out the image behind you, just kidding😂😂

The thumbnail pic scared me ngl

You had me until you said and I quote “The words generational wealth should never be mentioned when your kid is 15 years old” are you crazy? Every kid should be talked to about and put in a position to garner generational wealth if possible, blaming a father for trying to give his child the knowledge and encouragement to be great is just asinine, y’all tried that with Lavar Ball too until he proved y’all wrong, I hope Emoni Bates succeeds in spite of all the negative talk surrounding him

Is the curse of being in front sports illustrated magazine.

That's nuts I'm 5'7 and we almost have the same hand size just 2 inches off 😧

Boy, does this remind me of Freddie Adu.