9 PM EST on FS1 Frankie Collins takes on Emoni Bates
The best senior scorer in high school basketball (former Michigan native) Jaden Hardy announced he is shutting down his high school career leaving Frankie's club team short-handed, but the game will definitely give us a good sense of how college ready is Frankie's game.
January 9th, 2021 at 12:32 PM ^
How is someone a “former Michigan native”?
January 9th, 2021 at 12:38 PM ^
Reincarnation.
January 9th, 2021 at 12:40 PM ^
I see the thought police are up early on Saturdays.
I wrote it in those terms because when you are still a teenager and can decide yourself what you consider your native state.
Considering that his entire family moved to Nevada before he even entered high school, he could just as readily consider himself a Las Vegas native.
January 9th, 2021 at 12:49 PM ^
Can he be considered a Las Vegan but still eat all the meats at the buffet?
January 9th, 2021 at 1:49 PM ^
Yes, as long as what's consumed in Vegas stays in Vegas.
January 9th, 2021 at 8:20 PM ^
Usually does, unless on a flight
January 9th, 2021 at 12:54 PM ^
This is a very interesting observation and it conjured questions I've had about my own "native" status before.
I was born in a Southern state to two recent Michigan transplants. My family didn't have a ton of love for the culture where we lived and all my extended family was in Michigan, so we visited Michigan 4 or more times every year, including long stretches in the summer because my mom was a teacher. Then, when I was 14, we moved to Michigan and I remained there through college.
Now, I don't like acknowledging the fact I was born in Southern state X, because I don't really identify much with it and I haven't had true connections there for quite a long time. But can I say I am a "Michigan native"? In general, I think I can't, but others may have different views.
January 9th, 2021 at 3:25 PM ^
You have my sympathy with this dilemma. I spent only a week or two in my birthplace and revisited it only once, for an afternoon. But that city appears on my passport. This is a problem for those of us from military families, fortunately minor, though it sometimes leads to labored explanations.
January 9th, 2021 at 8:54 PM ^
I was born in Texas (to parents from Michigan and Connecticut, who were only in Texas for a couple years before I was born), then California and Wisconsin before moving to Michigan in time for my 8th birthday. I stayed in Michigan until after graduation from UM and always considered it home, until now I've spent the last 8 years in Texas (Waco, Houston, now Dallas). So I consider myself both a Michigan and Texas native, but in different ways.
January 9th, 2021 at 1:31 PM ^
In his IG bio he has Detroit, so I think he considers himself a native still.
January 9th, 2021 at 4:34 PM ^
Yeah, okay Hilaria.
January 9th, 2021 at 6:40 PM ^
Floyd Mayweather Jr comes to mind
January 9th, 2021 at 4:26 PM ^
Because he grew up in Farmington area and moved to Vegas because of his brother who is currently at UNLV.
January 9th, 2021 at 12:50 PM ^
I wonder, is Matt EM attending the game? Would really like to hear what he has to say pending another live evaluation.
January 9th, 2021 at 12:59 PM ^
I will not be there. My Future Hoops Originals analysis on Collins was extremely detailed.
Love the pickup for Michigan.
January 9th, 2021 at 1:13 PM ^
Me too Matt, he hustles and plays great defense, just like the guys we have now, he's gonna be a great fit for Juwan.
If Smith and Brooks leave, it seems like he could be the starting PG, do you think his shot is good, how, would you grade it?
January 9th, 2021 at 1:31 PM ^
Below average, but not a complete non-shooter.
January 9th, 2021 at 2:14 PM ^
Matt, how would you compare his shot to Mike Smith’s at least as far as efficiency and not necessarily mechanics?
January 9th, 2021 at 2:46 PM ^
I’d project Collins as a high 20s/low 30s shooter from distance as of now.
Have to account for the fact that nearly all of his jumpers are going to be pull-ups, so he’s not going to be 35+ shooter in all likelihood
January 9th, 2021 at 3:15 PM ^
Sounds more Dejulius than Walton from deep.
January 9th, 2021 at 2:15 PM ^
Bates is not Michigan basketball ? material.
January 9th, 2021 at 2:49 PM ^
Hopefully Bates is the greatest None-and-Done ever recruited by Tom Izzo.
January 9th, 2021 at 4:25 PM ^
I disagree. He’s a teenager and will probably grow up as he goes through more adversity.
Let’s be honest, if he were to commit to showing up and playing a year in Ann Arbor, I would welcome him with open arms and so would you.
January 9th, 2021 at 2:29 PM ^
I'm very interested to watch this game with Collins being the primary option for this team without Hardy. Hopefully he'll put some more shots up
January 9th, 2021 at 3:12 PM ^
NJV, how do you see the pg position shaking out next year if Smith nor Brooks come back?
January 9th, 2021 at 3:56 PM ^
It really depends on how Zeb Jackson develops imo. Juwan giving him some legit minutes against Minnesota seems to be a good sign in his development, however, that also could've been because Brooks was out for the game. He did look pretty decent out there though so I'm optimistic about his future. Collins seems like a good fit in what Juwan wants to do at the PG position and it will just be a matter of how much time it takes for him to learn the system and get adjusted to the college game. I predict a drop off next year in PG play from what we're currently seeing from Smith and Brooks and we will likely miss their experience and defense, but I think the athleticism of Jackson and Collins will be something that we haven't seen from the PG position in a long time. Another interesting wrinkle will be what happens at the SG position because there may be a need for Zeb to play off ball which could increase the need for Collins to see more minutes at PG
January 9th, 2021 at 4:11 PM ^
Chances are very good that Michigan will have other very good options for both guard positions-depending upon who stays and who goes. Nimari is already heading into the portal and there will surely be multiple others. Michigan is going to be a very attractive destination for the best of the portal entrants.
January 9th, 2021 at 4:30 PM ^
I knew you would come around Vic. Seriously though it never hurts having two guys that are great at bringing the ball up the floor.
January 9th, 2021 at 6:14 PM ^
Im definitely a little weary of a guard rotation next season consisting of Zeb, Collins, & Bufkin. There is just so much youth and inexperience there. I've been banging this drum for a couple months but a grad transfer PG would be huge for next years roster. Allow the freshman & Zeb to ease into the rotation. There will be a lot of pieces next season but the guard play is going to be the biggest question mark.
January 9th, 2021 at 9:02 PM ^
It'd be nice to have Mike Smith back for that reason since he won't count against the scholarship limit
January 9th, 2021 at 4:23 PM ^
Frankie is going to enjoy passing to 7’2” Hunter and 6’10” Mousa! Juwan!
January 9th, 2021 at 6:06 PM ^
I went down a youtube rabbit hole and ended up watching a lot of Emoni Bates games. Yes, he is as good as advertised. But man on man does that kid have an attitude problem. Damn near every other game video I saw his dad has to literally bear hug him and drag him away from an altercation. He likes to take little cheap shots on players before and after the whistle. He seems to lose his cool multiple times a game.
I love guys who play with an edge. And basketball isn't basketball without trash talking. But Bates takes it a step or two further where he seems often out of control. I can see why Akins wanted out of that environment. I also think Bates is going to have a hard time when his dad isn't his coach watching his every move to protect him from himself.
January 9th, 2021 at 6:16 PM ^
Bates 100% has attitude issues. I've watched him play live twice and on TV 2-3 times and it's very evident. It's the Emoni show and everyone else is along for the ride. It was that way at Lincoln and it's that way at Ypsi Prep and his dad enables the behavior. Bates is a crazy talent, but his transition to college ball, especially under Izzo, is going to definitely be interesting to see. His personality fitting under Izzo was always questionable for me and with the Akins drama, I just have a hard time seeing Emoni suiting up for MSU
January 9th, 2021 at 7:55 PM ^
Juwan is a players coach but he is demanding and isn’t gonna have that kind of crap on the team. I think back to him and Livers getting into it and Bates father would want to pull him out of school after that.
January 10th, 2021 at 1:16 AM ^
I still don’t think Emoni ever steps on the court for MSU. To me it looks like G-League ——> Draft.
January 9th, 2021 at 9:32 PM ^
Frankie looking good early. Had a nice lob and hit some free throws after a drive. He’s been clobbered a few times with a no call. Guy missed him badly on a 2 on 1 lob.
January 9th, 2021 at 10:04 PM ^
I agree, Frankie was pressing early but seems to have a calm to him that likely will let him play above his age in college. That said, I also favor either convincing Smith to get a Master's and use the COVID 5th year or getting a PG off the portal. MSU this year is a perfect example of what happens when your PG plans don't pan out.
January 9th, 2021 at 10:13 PM ^
This game is sloppy as hell and seems to lack energy. I don’t watch a lot of high school basketball but this is painful to watch.
January 9th, 2021 at 11:02 PM ^
You should try watching middle school basketball sometime ;-)