[jwplayer kSHbmusT]
Future Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade and NBA All-Star Jayson Tatum surprised five-star prospect Emoni Bates on Tuesday morning with the news that he was named 2019-20 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
Bates of Lincoln High School in Ypsilanti, Michigan, became the first sophomore to earn the honor and beat out over half of a million student-athletes who compete in boys basketball each year. The 6-foot-9 forward led the Railsplitters to a 19-3 record, averaging 32.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.2 steals in 21 games.
Gatorade National Players of the Year are historically surprised in person surrounded by their family, friends, teammates and coaches but due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Gatorade surprised Bates digitally via a wave of tweets from professional athletes, including Wade and Tatum, who won the award during the 2015-16 season.
Congrts @BatesEmoni on winning the 2019-2020 @Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year award. Biggest award in high school sports 💪🏾 #GatoradePOY #GatoradePartner
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) April 14, 2020
Congrats, @BatesEmoni on winning the 2019-2020 @Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year award. That’s Big Time. Welcome to the Fam. #GatoradePOY #GatoradePartner
— Jayson Tatum (@jaytatum0) April 14, 2020
Bates is considered to be a five-star prospect and the No. 1-ranked player in the 2022 recruiting class, according to 247Sports. He has been compared to Kevin Durant and has even graced the cover of Sports Illustrated.
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence but also high standards of academic, distinguishes Bates as the nation’s best high school boys basketball player.
[lawrence-related id=13306,10737,13874]
[vertical-gallery id=11659]