Cleveland Cavaliers select Emoni Bates in 2023 NBA Draft

The Cleveland Cavaliers selected Emoni Bates in the 2023 NBA Draft out of Eastern Michigan with the No. 49 overall pick (second round).

A much hyped prospect, Bates was a surprise second round selection. He started his career at Memphis before transferring to Eastern Michigan.

Bates vastly improved in his second season of college basketball. He finished the 2022-23 campaign with 19.2 points per game, 5.8 rebounds per game, 1.4 assists per game, shot 40.5% from the floor and 33% from the floor.

As a member of the Class of 2021, Bates was a five-star recruit out of Ypsilanti (Mich.) Ypsi Prep Academy, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 1 overall prospect in the state, the No. 1 small forward in the class and the No. 5 overall prospect in the class.

His high profile status coming out of high school, shot-making ability and size alone makes him primed to be given at least a shot at playing, and remaining on an NBA roster. Pro scouts still question his maturity, defense and athleticism, which is why many expected Bates to be a mid-to-late second-round draft choice, according to Bleacher Report’s mock draft in April, per NBA.com.

More on the 2023 NBA Draft

The 2023 NBA Draft took place on Thursday, June 22, 2023, in Brooklyn at Barclays Center. Round 1 of the draft was announced by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, while Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum is announced the second round of picks.

To be eligible for the NBA Draft, players must be at least 19 years of age during the calendar year that the draft is held and at least one NBA season from their high school graduation date, or the date that would have been if they are not graduated. It is not required that players spend that one-year playing college basketball, though. Players can play in either college, abroad, or the G League Ignite if they choose to.

While this is a significant change from what the rules once were, players are eligible to enter their names into the NBA Draft pool and explore their options by hiring an agent to go through the process, while still keeping their college eligibility. The deadline to make that move is on April 23 beginning at 11:59 p.m. ET. Players have until June 12 at 5 p.m. ET to withdraw their name from the pool and return to college.