Sophomore named Gatorade Player of the Year

He’s only 16 years old, but Emoni Bates may be the best high school basketball player in the country.

He has drawn comparisons to Kevin Durant and already has appeared on a Sports Illustrated cover. He’s a social media highlight staple. Some have wondered out loud if he’s talented enough to play in the NBA right now.

So it’s fitting that the Ypsilanti Lincoln phenom has now added a major award to his résumé. On Tuesday, Bates was named the Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

He’s the first sophomore to win the prestigious award, beating out two seniors: Cade Cunningham, a 6-foot-6 guard from Arlington, Texas, who has signed with Oklahoma State; and Evan Mobley, a 6-11 center from Temecula, California, who will play for USC next season.

“Emoni Bates is the newest generational talent in the high school game,” ESPN national recruiting director for boys high school basketball Paul Biancardi said in a news release. “As a 6-foot-9 sophomore, he owns a slender frame with terrific length thanks to a 7-1 wingspan. His elite ball skills have a profound influence and impact on the game.

"His ability as a shooter, including his capacity to make contested shots, makes him unique. His gifts off the bounce, his court vision and his fast-developing basketball IQ stand out as well. A key separating trait at this early age is his ‘alpha-dog’ mentality. When his time comes for the NBA draft, we project him as the No. 1 pick.”

Bates joins Chris Webber, LaVell Blanchard and Kevin Torbert as national winners from the state.

Other national winners include Alonzo Mourning, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwight Howard.