Bates-Diop focuses on the now, not future
When the season ends, Keita Bates-Diop will have a big decision to make. But before the final home game of the season, he had another one to make — and it might have shed some light on what is to come for the Ohio State fourth-year junior.
After receiving his degree following fall semester, Bates-Diop opted to be recognized with the team’s seniors and graduates Tuesday night as the No. 16 Buckeyes played Rutgers at Value City Arena. The other three players to do so — fifth-year senior Kam Williams, graduate transfer Andrew Dakich and senior Jae’Sean Tate — are out of eligibility.
Bates-Diop is not after taking a medical redshirt last year, which means he has a decision to make. A projected late-first-round NBA draft pick and introduced by coach Chris Holtmann as “Big Ten player of the year” after Tuesday’s game, BatesDiop said he hasn’t yet spent much time pondering his future.
“It was mostly just because I graduated already,” he said of his decision to be included with the festivities. “We haven’t talked about it at all. I’m not thinking about it at all. We just talked in the locker room (as a team) about stuff clouding your judgment, clouding your thoughts toward winning because that’s all we’re thinking about right now is now it’s Indiana, now we’re looking forward to the Big Ten tournament and NCAA Tournament and trying to win games. That’s all I’m thinking about.”
Evan Turner never had a senior day. The same went for Jared Sullinger, Greg Oden, Mike Conley or other players to depart Ohio State early for the NBA in recent years. Given a microphone and the floor at center court after the win, Bates-Diop thanked his parents, singled out Tate for becoming a fast friend and the coaching staff for believing in him.
Then he addressed the crowd.
“I truly do love this place,” he said. “This place is my home now. I will forever cherish every time I’ve had here in Columbus. You guys took me in with open arms and accepted me for who I am, through all the ups and downs, through my inconsistent play, all the losses, you guys always stuck with me and I love this place. Go Bucks.”
It took only a few games this season for the thought that Bates-Diop could play himself into the NBA to take hold with the coaching staff. He has averaged 19.0 points and 8.7 rebounds, the only player among the top three in the league in both categories, and is on the watch lists for multiple national awards.
One day before the game, Holtmann was asked if the thought of Rutgers being BatesDiop’s final home game filled him with great emotion or great sorrow. He picked the latter, then said he was joking.
“Will I have a lot of more sleepless nights than maybe normal in the offseason thinking about playing without those guys?” he said. “Absolutely, but I’m going to try to delay that for a little while and just appreciate them for the final weeks that we have them and enjoy every moment with them and go from there.”