Ex-top recruit Bates picks Eastern Michigan

Emoni Bates, one of the top recruits in the 2021 men’s basketball recruiting class, says he is transferring from Memphis to Eastern Michigan.

Bates, in an Instagram post June 29, announced his decision to return to his hometown of Ypsilanti to play for the Eagles of the MidAmerican Conference. An EMU spokesman said he could not confirm Bates’ transfer.

Bates averaged 9.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game his freshman season at Memphis and started 13 of 18 games.

He missed 15 games because of a back injury before appearing in the Tigers’ two NCAA Tournament games.

The 6-foot-9 forward announced in April that he would leave Memphis and later said he would decide among Michigan, Arkansas, Seton Hall, DePaul, Louisville and Eastern Michigan.

Bates originally was on track to be in the 2022 recruiting class, but last summer he reclassified to the class of 2021 and signed with Penny Hardaway at Memphis.

WILLIAMS, CALHOUN

HEADLINE HALL CLASS » Roy Williams and Jim Calhoun will join John Beilein and Lon Kruger in a star-studded cast of coaches who will be inducted into the National College Basketball Hall of Fame in November. Another longtime coach, Jerry Krause of Eastern Washington, will join the quartet along with players Richard Hamilton of UConn, Larry Miller of North Carolina, Frank Selvy of Furman and Jimmy Walker of Providence.

College football

LEACH GETS EXTENSION »

Mississippi State coach Mike Leach has signed a two-year contract extension through 2025 after leading the Bulldogs to their second consecutive bowl appearance. MSU football spokesman Brandon Langlois on June 29 confirmed the extension, which was initially reported by several media outlets. The third-year coach’s base annual salary increases from $5 million to $5.5 million under the new deal.

Golf

PROTEST PLANNED » LIV Golf’s first U.S. event was set to begin June 30, with a group of survivors and families who lost loved ones in the Sept. 11 terror attacks planning to gather at a nearby park to speak out against the Saudi Arabia-funded tour.

Brett Eagleson was 15 years old when he lost his father in the collapse of the World Trade Center. Nearly 3,000 people were killed on that day in 2001.

“We want the golfers to know who they’re getting in bed with, who they’re doing business with,” Eagleson said.

MLB

METS PITCHERS PROGRESSING » Mets aces Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer took their next steps June 29 toward returning to New York’s rotation. DeGrom, sidelined since last July 7, threw 27 pitches to hitters in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and could progress to a minor league injury rehabilitation assignment.

PHILLIES SAY SURGERY

WENT WELL » Phillies slugger Bryce Harper had successful surgery to repair his broken left thumb, interim manager Rob Thomson said, but there is no timetable for his return.