By ADAM ZAGORIA
Emoni Bates and Ypsi Prep (MI) will play Coronado (NV) on national television on Saturday night, but Jaden Hardy won’t be there.
The 6-4 Hardy, the No. 2-ranked player in the Class of 2021, per ESPN.com, announced he “will no longer be playing high school” this season due to the pandemic’s impact on high school basketball in Nevada. He holds offers from Kentucky, Arizona, Arizona State and UCLA, among others, but could also opt to go pro next season.
The game will air Saturday at 9 p.m. on FS1. Green and Gold Level Sports & Entertainment is sponsoring The Battle Basketball Showcase at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
The original game between Ypsi Prep and Sierra Canyon was set to take place Nov. 20 in Mansfield, TX, but was postponed due to COVID concerns.
Ypsi Prep will play as “Bates Fundamentals” on Saturday.
The 6-foot-9 Bates is the No. 1 player in the Class of 2022 and is committed to Michigan State. He could opt to reclassify to 2021, his father said Wednesday.
Because he turns 17 Jan. 28 and won’t turn 19 until 2023, he couldn’t enter the NBA Draft until then. Bates is averaging 27 points and eight rebounds this season.
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