NCAA Basketball: Where will four-star 2021 guard Tamar Bates end up?
NCAA Basketball prospect Tamar Bates has seen his recruitment heat up as of late. Which of the teams in the running have the best shot to land the guard?
Due to the evolution of how the game of basketball is played, there is a new classification of players on the perimeter that can both score and pass at a high rate and essentially play either the point or shooting guard position. Elite NBA players such as Steph Curry, Damien Lillard, and others are the best examples, while many NCAA Basketball players have followed similar paths.
One of them is Tamar Bates, a 6’4 combo guard out of Kansas City, Kansas. More of a traditional point guard at first in his development but has seen his scoring output production rise at a fast rate. A smart decision-maker with the ball, Bates may be better suited to playing at the point guard spot to lead the offense but depending on the right situation could present a lethal double-ball handler combo on the perimeter.
Viewed as a consensus four-star prospect and just outside of the top-100 overall, teams are looking to land someone with top-50 potential but are more likely to stay multiple years in college. Just recently, Bates has lowered his list of suitors to seven teams.
https://twitter.com/tbates_11/status/1295414430079938560
With potential local option Wichita State seemingly not in the picture, the chances of one of these out-of-state programs landing Bates just got higher. But it may be tough for them to beat one of the perceived current favorites. Here’s a look at how Bates would potentially fit with each of the seven finalists.
Alabama Crimson Tide
The offensive style Coach Nate Oats and the Crimson Tide has will always be appealing to guards, based partly off the success All-SEC guard Kira Lewis Jr. just had last season. He’s off to the pros, with Villanova transfer Jahvon Quinerly taking over for him in 2020-21 at the point guard position.
Even if both Quinerly and shooting guard Jaden Shackelford decide to go pro after next season, there still is plenty of players on the perimeter that Bates will have to overcome. That includes fellow combo guard and top-50 prospect Josh Primo, as well as incoming JUCO guard Keon Ellis. Add to it that Alabama has made it clear that they’re targeting five-star talent, then Bates should be careful, even if this option looks great on paper.