CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A few years ago, before a turbulent college career, Emoni Bates was playing inside packed gyms and being touted as the next big thing while drawing comparisons to a young Kevin Durant. He was the top basketball player in his age group by the time he reached the sixth grade.
But Bates failed to live up to the hype. Now he’s trying to prove he belongs in the NBA, that he’s worth a draft investment.