From prodigy to project, Cavaliers rookie Emoni Bates rediscovers joy on twisted path to NBA
By TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — Emoni Bates has gone from prodigy to project. Touted as a can’t-miss NBA star before he was a teenager, Bates has followed a twisted path to the pros. The 19-year-old, who spent one season at Memphis and one at Eastern Michigan, was recently drafted in the second round by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Bates is grateful for the chance and said the draft process has allowed him to rediscover a lost joy for the game. Bates will make his pro debut on Friday with the Cavs’ Summer League team in Las Vegas.