NBA Comparison: Isaiah Joe / Will Barton

Strengths: A smooth, left-handed wing with elite shooting, a polished offensive game and a high basketball IQ … Measured 6’3.75” barefoot with a 6’10.25” wingspan and 8’7” standing reach at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine … His 33.5” max vertical indicates decent athleticism, though he doesn’t consistently play above the rim … Bates is an efficient scorer, shooting 50.8% from the field and 39.7% from three-point range in the 2024–25 season … He excels in catch-and-shoot situations and has a reliable pull-up jumper, including a notable step-back three … His free throw shooting is elite, converting 94.6% from the line in 2024–25 and 92.6% in 2023–24, indicating elite shooting mechanics … Over his four-year college career, he made 220 of 238 free throws, an outstanding 92.4% success rate … Bates has shown the ability to create for others, particularly in pick-and-roll situations, and averaged 1.0 assists per game … Defensively, he has good anticipation, averaging 1.3 steals per game, and uses his length effectively … Considering his efficiency and high-level shooting, there appears to be some untapped potential as a scorer and overall player, perhaps he blended in too much and could thrive even more in a system that challenges him to take on a bigger offensive role …

Weaknesses: Bates possesses a slender frame at 191.4 lbs, which can be a disadvantage when defending stronger opponents or absorbing contact on drives … His lack of elite first-step quickness limits his ability to consistently beat defenders off the dribble in isolation situations … While he is an effective scorer, he can improve his playmaking skills to become a more versatile offensive threat … Defensively, his thin build and average lateral quickness can be exploited by more athletic wings … His lack of strength limits his ability to play physically on that end and defend through contact … While Bates has the physical tools, particularly length and agility—he doesn’t always play to his potential defensively … He should aim to become a stronger and more consistent defender … Right now, he’s a good but not great defender, though there is real potential to make defense a strength of his game as he adds strength and commits more consistently on that end … Additionally, his lack of scoring aggression is part of the reason he’s being underrated, and his 13.3 points per game may have been limited due to his willingness to be a team player and not take over games as much as he could have … Despite his elite shooting ability, averaging only 13.3 PPG as a senior raises some concern about his determination to score and overall offensive assertiveness … He defers a bit too much and will need to develop a more selfish mindset, demanding more opportunities to score and take over stretches of the game at the next level …

Outlook: Bates has been flying under the radar but is shaping up to be one of the draft’s major steals in the bubble first-round area … After transferring from Indiana to Missouri, he became a key contributor and steady presence, finally beginning to live up to the top-25 national ranking he earned as a high school recruit in the class of 2021 … It took time, but Bates made significant strides late in his college career, showcasing efficiency, poise, and elite-level shooting … His performances at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament and NBA G League Elite Camp, capped by a strong showing at the NBA Draft Combine, have steadily elevated his stock … During the 2024–25 season, Bates averaged 13.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.0 assist, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 50.8% from the field, 39.7% from three, and an elite 94.6% from the free throw line across 34 games (26.0 minutes per game) … His ability to space the floor, play within himself, and contribute on both ends makes him a strong candidate to carve out a role as a reliable rotation player … With high character, a strong work ethic, and the tools to develop further, Bates projects as a plug-and-play contributor with room to grow into a more assertive and complete scorer.

Notes: Measured 6’3.75” barefoot, 191.4 lbs, 6’10.25” wingspan, 8’7.00” standing reach, 27.5” no step vertical and 33.5” max vertical at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine … Played two seasons at Indiana before transferring to Missouri for the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons … Born in Kansas City, Missouri …  Known as a high-character, team-first player with a strong work ethic and competitive mindset … Selected to the Academic All-SEC Team in 2024 … Led Missouri in three-point percentage during the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons … Played in 34 games (starting the majority) as a senior, averaging 13.3 PPG on 50.8% FG and 39.7% from three … Regarded as a vocal leader and steady presence on and off the court …

Aran Smith 5/23/25