- Michigan
Emoni Bates becomes fourth player to win Gatorade Michigan Boys Basketball Player of the Year honors twice
He might not get to finish his sophomore season with a trophy — just yet anyway — but Ypsilanti Lincoln’s Emoni Bates is still bringing home the hardware.
Bates was named the Gatorade Michigan Boys Basketball Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, after averaging 31 points and 10 rebounds as a sophomore.
Lincoln assistant AD Katie Moffett tweeted out congratulations Thursday evening.
The defending Division 1 champions, Bates’ Railsplitters (19-3) were expecting to be playing in the district finals against Ann Arbor Huron (21-1) last Friday night, before the postseason was put on ‘pause’ by the MHSAA, to help slow the expansion of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bates became the fourth player to win the Michigan award in consecutive years, joining Detroit Country Day’s Chris Webber (1989-90 and 1990-91) and Ray McCallum Jr. (2008-09 and 2009-10), as well as Bay City Western’s Matt Costello (2010-11 and 2011-12).
The Lincoln sophomore was also named the the Naismith High School All-American second team this week.
Bates also put his name in the record books earlier this season, with a 63-point, 21-rebound outburst against Chelsea in a double-overtime win.
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The Gatorade Michigan Boys Basketball Player of the Year winners:
2019-20 — Emoni Bates, So., Ypsilanti Lincoln
2018-19 — Emoni Bates, Fr., Ypsilanti Lincoln
2017-18 — Foster Loyer, Sr., Clarkston
2016-17 — Isaiah Livers, Sr., Kalamazoo Central
2015-16 — Cassius Winston, Sr., Detroit U-D Jesuit
2014-15 — Deyonta Davis, Sr., Muskegon
2013-14 — Yante Maten, Sr., Bloomfield Hills
2012-13 — Derrick Walton Jr., Harper Woods Chandler Park
2011-12 — Matt Costello, Sr., Bay City Western
2010-11 — Matt Costello, Jr., Bay City Western
2009-10 — Ray McCallum Jr., Sr., Detroit Country Day
2008-09 — Ray McCallum Jr., Jr., Detroit Country Day
2007-08 — Brad Redford, Sr., Frankenmuth
2006-07 — Corperryale “Manny” Harris, Sr., Redford
2005-06 — Deshawn Sims, Sr., Detroit Pershing
2004-05 — Zach Gibson, Sr., Grand Blanc
2003-04 — Malik Hairston, Sr., Detroit Renaissance
2002-03 — Brandon Cotton, Sr., Detroit dePorres
2001-02 — Anthony Roberson, Sr., Saginaw
2000-01 — Kelvin Torbert, Sr., Flint Northwestern
1999-00 — Marcus Taylor, Sr., Lansing Waverly
1998-99 — LaVell Blanchard, Sr., Ann Arbor Pioneer
1997-98 — Dane Fife, Sr., Clarkston
1996-97 — Shane Battier, Sr., Detroit Country Day
1995-96 — Mateen Cleaves, Sr., Flint Northern
1994-95 — Robert Traylor, Sr., Detroit Murray-Wright
1993-94 — Maurice Taylor, Sr., Detroit Henry Ford
1992-93 — Jon Garavaglia, Sr., Southgate Aquinas
1991-92 — Kenyon Murray, Sr., Battle Creek Central
1990-91 — Chris Webber, Sr., Detroit Country Day
1989-90 — Chris Webber, Jr., Detroit Country Day
1988-89 — Sam Mitchell, Sr., Kalamazoo Loy Norrix
1987-88 — Matt Steigenga, Sr., Grand Rapids South Christian
1986-87 — Mark Macon, Sr., Saginaw Buena Vista
1985-86 — Terry Mills, Sr., Romulus
