Star high schooler Emoni Bates has been named the 2019-20 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
Bates becomes the first sophomore to ever receive the honor. Award winners are typically surprised in person while surrounded by their family, friends, teammates and coaches. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Gatorade surprised Bates digitally via a wave of tweets from multiple professional athletes, including Jayson Tatum and Dwyane Wade.
Bates, a Ypsilanti, Mich., native, led Lincoln High to a 19–3 record and appeared in 21 games. He averaged 32.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.