Eastern Michigan forward Emoni Bates has been “immediately reinstated to all athletic and campus activities” following the dismissal of felony charges against him, per a statement from EMU Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Wetherbee.
An official statement from Vice President/Director of Athletics Scott Wetherbee#EMUEagles pic.twitter.com/jFcN53ECMr
— Eastern Michigan Athletics (@EMUAthletics) October 13, 2022
Bates was arrested and charged with two felony gun charges after a traffic stop in Superior Township, Mich., on Sept. 18, according to Washtenaw County arrest records.
Washtenaw County deputies pulled over Bates, who this year transferred to Eastern Michigan, for failing to stop at an intersection and found a firearm during the investigation, local TV station WXYZ-7 reported. The 18-year-old Bates was charged with carrying a concealed weapon and altering ID marks, per the arrest record, and taken into custody at the Washtenaw County jail.
Bates, once considered the top prospect in all of high school basketball, originally committed to Michigan State but then reclassified from the Class of 2022 to 2021 and signed with the University of Memphis last August. He started the first seven games but was removed from the starting lineup prior to the Tigers’ game against Ole Miss in December. At the end of January, he was sidelined with a back injury and did not return to the team until the NCAA Tournament. He played just three minutes in Memphis’ first-round game against Boise State, and 12 in the loss to Gonzaga.
After the season Bates, who averaged just 9.7 points per game for Memphis, entered the transfer portal. The Ypsilanti native chose to return home, to Eastern Michigan, and immediately became the highest-ranked player to join a Mid-American Conference team.
Eastern Michigan opens its season against Wayne State on Nov. 7.
(Photo: Petre Thomas / USA Today)
