Louisville Cardinals
New head coach and former New York Knicks assistant Kenny Payne has the chance to not only make some national headlines by landing a talent like Bates but he also could take a big shot at rival Kentucky, who wasn’t involved in the first go-around and likely will go for a transfer with experience.
The Cardinals roster has plenty of holes, including at the wings, with just four-star Kamari Lands currently there. Bates can come in and be a focal point of the offense, surrounded by some veteran pieces that may fit him better than at Memphis. The concern here will be how Coach Payne does as a first-time head coach in NCAA Basketball but this option is in a rebuilding situation and if Bates lifts them to the NCAA Tournament, he’ll be a star there.
Miami Hurricanes
The Hurricanes were in the mix a year ago and reportedly had a legit shot at landing him. So after the program had a big campaign and is coming off an Elite 8 appearance, they could look even more appealing for Bates now. This option would allow the wing to play in the ACC but still fly a bit under the radar at Miami compared to the likes of Duke and North Carolina.
Miami won’t have leading scorer Kameron McGusty at the wings so there’s a clear need for another offensive weapon. With four-star AJ Casey also a combo forward, Bates could play either forward position and be a focal point of the offense. If familiarity matters this time around, head coach Jim Larranaga may have the leg up in recruitment 2.0.