[3级]EmoniBatesisanNBAinevitability.Thepath,theMichiganState
篮球场版主·2021-03-0520:49
YPSILANTI,Mich.—ElginBates,knownasEJ,isheretotalkaboutfear.
Notthescary,hair-raisingkind,buttheabstractkind.Thekindthatcomeswithmisunderstandingthepresent.Thekindthatcomeswhenyouthinkofthefuturedisappearing.The44-year-oldcockshisheadtothesidewhenhesays,“Peoplefearthingsthatthey’renotknowledgeableabout—theunknown.”Hegrinsandadds,“Ifit’sneverbeendone,it’sautomaticallynegative.”
BatesisslouchedonaleathersofainasideroomattachedtoYpsiPrepAcademy’shomegym.Hisson,Emoni,isontheothersideofthewall,probablydoingoneoftwothings:gettingupshotsorthumbingthroughhisphone.Emoni,17,iswidelyconsideredthebesthighschoolbasketballplayerintheworld.Sure,somevoicesouttheremightmakeacaseforthisplayerorthatplayer,butBateshasbeenthesport’smosttalked-aboutNBAprospectsincehewasintheseventhoreighthgrade.Thathasn’tchangedbecausecatslikeChetHolmgrenorJalenDurenarecomingintofocus.
That’swhyallofthiswascreated.
ForthoseinsidetheverycircumscribedworldofEmoniBates,YpsiPrepisnotaschoolasmuchasit’savessel.ItexiststotransportEmonifromthislifetothenext—fromtoday’smundanerealitiestotomorrow’sNBAstratosphere.InEJ’smind,it’sbothanappropriatepedestalforhisprodigioussonandagoldenticketforthosewho’vechosentojoinhim.EJknowsonlookerswhoseetheschoolaresuspicious.Theyassumeit’sasham.TheyassumeitwillvanishwheneverEmonileaves.EJscoffs.“Ifanything,”hesays,“it’sgoingtoevolveandbecomebiggerandstronger.”
Forthoseofusontheoutside,YpsiPrepisaconceptionoutofthinair.ItoperatesalongsideanunaffiliatedcharterschoolinanunmarkedrentedbuildinginsoutheastMichigan.ItsitsfivemilessouthofdowntownYpsilanti,wherethesmallcityturnstosuburbansprawl.It’s20minutesfromAnnArbor,40minutesfromDetroitandstraightoutofEJBates’imagination.There’saclassroom,onewithadozencomputersforonlinecoursework.There’sagym,onewithanewcustom-paintedfloorfeaturingthelogooftheYpsiPrepBallboys.It’sabeautifulhardwoodcourt,evenifit’snotaregulation94feet.It’scertainlybetterthantherubberflooritreplaced.
ThisisYpsiPrep.Ithasanenrollmentof12students.Theyareallteammates.TheytakeclassesthroughsomethingcalledArborValleyOnlineAcademy.Therewereotherenrollees,buttheyleft.We’llgetintothat,butbeforegoinganyfurther,ithastobeacknowledgedthatEJBatesisright:Thishasneverbeendone.
Theparentofatranscendenthighschoolbasketballtalenthasnevercreatedaprepschool,aligneditwithanonlineeducationalpartnerandtakentotalownershipofallleversinanamateurcareerthatsome,includingEJ,haveestimatedmightonedaybeworth$250million.Ina2019SportsIllustratedcoverstory,backwhenEmoniwasonly15,EJsaidtoauthorMichaelRosenberg:“Sometimes(players)justgowiththeflow,notreallysettingthemselvesupforgenerationalwealth.If(Emoni)isinthatposition,Iwanttomakesureheisincontrolwitheverythinghedoes.”
That’sabigword,isn’titControl.Havingcontrol.Losingcontrol.Beingincontrol.NoonecancrawlinsideEJBates’head,orinsidetheheadofEdithBates,Emoni’smother,buttounderstandthehereandnowoftheyoungmanperceivedasbasketball’snextseismicsuperstar,that’swhereyouhavetostart.
“Iwantcontrolofthenarrativeatalltimes,”EJBatessays.“Iwanttotuneoutasmuchnoiseaspossiblebecauseoncethetimearises—onceithits—it’sgonnabefullthrottle.AslongasIcanprotecthimandshieldhimfromasmuchasIcanrightnow,that’swhatmeandhismomaregonnado.”
Ononehand,EmoniBatesisyearsintohisstardom.Ontheotherhand,he’sstilltwoyearsawayfromthedream,twoyearsawayfromthemoney,twoyearsawayfromdestiny.
ThusyouhaveYpsiPrep.ThecourseissetforthisplacetogetEmoniwherehe’ssupposedtogo,but,standingoutsideamidthesnowofaMichiganafternoon,asbouncingballsechoinside,youlookaroundandrealizethere’snosigninfront.
Maybethisisn’twhatitseems.
Maybeitis.
TheBallboyswerebornonaMonday.Theyneededaproperstage.
SteveHaney,aMichigan-basedattorney,reachedouttoanESPNcontactonthefamily’sbehalf.HaneyismostknownforrepresentingChristianDawkinsinthemonumental2017FBIinvestigationintofraudandcorruptioninNCAAbasketball.Haney,whoplayedballatLoyolaMarymountandSanJoseState,andprofessionallyoverseas,isaformercertifiedNBAagent.HerepresentedthelikesofMagicJohnson,DominiqueWilkinsandKennyAnderson.Heentersthisstorybecauseheis,inadditiontoitall,hesays,closefriendswithEJBates.
LastJune,HaneytoldESPNtheBatesfamilywascreatingaschoolwithEmoniasthecenterpiece.Heaskedaboutgettingaspoton“SportsCenter”toannouncethecreationofYpsiPrepAcademy.Initially,hesays,therewasneveramentionofEmonialsodroppinganout-of-nowherecollegecommitment.
“ESPNagreedthattheyweregoingtorunastoryaboutEmoniandYpsiPrep,andthenitwassortof,‘Oh,andhey,bytheway,ifyouguysareOKwithit,we’regoingtoannounceacommitmenttoMichiganStatetoo,'”Haneysays.
ESPNwasonboardfortheYpsiPrepannouncement,accordingtoHaney,buttakenabacktolearntheMichiganStatecommitmentwascomingontopofit,asourceinsidethenetworkconfirmed.That,ofcourse,wouldbethemuchbiggernews.“Thatwasbasicallysupplementalprograming,”Haneysays.
ThenewscameasasurprisetoMichiganStatetoo.Accordingtomultiplesourcesintheprogram,coachTomIzzodidn’tknowBates’commitmentwascominguntilthedaybefore.
TheBateses,meanwhile,knewformonthsthey’dcommittoMichiganState,eventhoughthere’snoguaranteeEmonieverplaysthere.Despitebeingafive-starrecruitforaslongasanyonecanremember,hewasneverpursuedbycollegebasketball’sbluebloods.ThelikesofDukeandKentuckypassed,believinghe’llneverplayNCAAbasketball.MichiganState,ontheotherhand,activelyrecruitedEmonisincehewasinthesixthgrade,invitinghimtoEastLansingfornumerousgames.
Withthat,aspotwasbookedforthemid-morningepisodeof“SportsCenter”onJune29,2019.
Onscreenthatmorning,AmericasawEmoniBatescommittoMichiganState.
Inreality,thebasketballworldwasseeingthewords“YpsiPrepAcademy”forthefirsttime.TheywerescrawledacrossEmoni’schest,alongwithhisNo.21.Thisishowyoumakethesystemworkforyou.Thisishowyoucontrolthenarrative.
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Beforethatearlysummerannouncement,BateswasastudentatLincolnHigh,a1,100-studentpublicschoolinYpsilanti.Asafreshman,Emonijoinedatalentedrosterfilledoutbyeightseniors.Histeammateshadheardofhimbeforehearrived.Everyonehad.ThephenomspentthepriorsummerontheNikeEYBLcircuit,thankstoaspecialexemption.Typicallyeighth-gradersweren’tallowedtoparticipateintheEYBL.Butmosteighth-gradersaren’tEmoniBates.HeplayedgrassrootsforBatesFundamentals,aprogramEJstartedin2008,backwhenEmoniwasonly4andnoonecouldimaginewhatwastocome.BatesFundamentalswasoriginallysponsoredbyAdidas,butswitchedtoNikein2018.Aspartofthedeal,Emoni,a6-foot-713-year-old,waspermittedto“playup”intheEYBL.YouTubehighlightsfromhisgamesonthecircuitgarneredmillionsofviews.
Soft-spokenoffthecourt,hot-bloodedonit,EmonibuttedheadswitholderteammatesinearlypracticesatLincoln.“Guystriedtogoathimthefirstcoupleofweeks,butthentheyallrealizedthat,yeah,hewaslegit,andhewasbetterthanallofthem,”LincolnathleticdirectorChrisWestfallrecalls.“Theyacceptedhimandactuallyprotectedhimafterthat.”
Lincolninitiallyplayedtopackedhousesatits2,000-seathomegym.Westfall,noranyoneelse,hadeverseenanythinglikeit.Theschoolpaidforsecuritytostandateverydoor,preventingspectatorsfromsneakingin.Bateswascovertlyslippedinandoutofgymstoavoidmobsandautograph-seekers.Intime,Lincoln’sgamesweremovedtoEasternMichiganUniversity’s8,800-seatConvocationCenter.
“Itbecamekindofafull-timejobjusttomanagetheinsandoutsofit,”Westfallsays.“In(Bates’)secondyear,thechallengeswereevencrazier.AbouthalfourgameswereattheConvoCentertoprotectEmoniandtheteamandthefamiliesfromthecrowd.
“Itwasn’tasmuchfun,tobehonest,becauseitgottobethebusinesssideofsports.Wewereplayingincollegearenas,staffingitwithacrewof30people.WesentprivatesecurityguysontheroadwiththeteamjusttomakesureeverythingwentOK.Itwascrazy.Itwasn’thighschoolbasketball.”
LincolnwonitsfirststatechampionshipinBates’freshmanyear.
Everyyearwasanevolution,buteveryaccomplishmentcamewithquestionsaboutwhatwouldcomenext.EmoniwasbornJan.18,2004.UnderNBArules,heisnoteligiblefortheNBADraftuntilspring2023.Previousyearsbroughtspeculationtheleaguemightalteritsageruletoreintroduceanoptionforhighschoolerstojumpdirectlytodrafteligibility.Thatchange,however,stalled.NowtheGLeague,withitsrecentemphasisoncreatingapathwayforpreptalent,isseenastheroutefornon-drafteligiblestarslookingtoturnpro.
Thisdynamichascreatedafuturestuckintime.It’snotaquestionofifEmoniwillbeatoppickintheNBADraft,butwhen.Thefinishline,whichisactuallyhisprofessionalstartingline,feelsperpetuallyoutofreach.
“It’ssonear,yetit’ssofaraway,”EJBatessays.“Itellpeoplethatallthetime.Andthingscanhappenbetweennowandthenext20minutes.”
Sothepredicamenthaslongexisted:howtogetEmonifromheretothere.
Thefamilydecideditwasdonewithtraditionalhighschoolballafterthe2019-20season.LincolncamewithlimitationsbornfromsomearchaicMichiganHighSchoolAthleticAssociationbylaws.BeforetheCOVID-19pandemicforcedsomeruletweaks,highschoolsinMichigancouldonlyplaygamesagainstopponentsfromborderingstatesorwithin300milesoftheircampus,andfacedcertainbroadcastandstreamingrestrictions.
Butitwasmorethanthat.Inthefamily’seyes,Emoniwasvulnerable.Opponentstookrunsathim.Hatersbaitedhim.TherelonghasbeenaperceptionthatphysicalplaycanroilyoungEmoni.Thetheoryisn’twithoutmerit.Whenwithinhimself,Emoniisaworld-classshooterwithguardskills,languidathleticismandlimitlesspotential.Heis6feet,9inches,allarmsandlegs,andplayswiththeuncomplicatedmotiveofembarrassingyou.Hecanalso,however,turnmoltenhotwhenchallenged.Hehaslongbeenasubjectofstudybyamateurpsychologists.Theyseethewayheplays—fistsclenched,wild-eyed—andwonderwhat’sburninginside.OpposingteamsandfanswouldgoatEmoni,andEmoniwouldgorightbackatthem.Numerousgamesfeltliketheyweresimmeringtoaboilingpoint.TheBatesfamilyfeltthingsweren’tsafe.Morethanafewopposingcoaches,meanwhile,wouldtellyouthatthefamilyofteninterpretsfoulsasassaults.Inanyevent,Emoniwasn’tgoingtoplayanothergameatLincoln.
Speculationswirled,somewonderingifBatesmighteventuallylandatabasketball-centricprepschool.That,though,wouldrequireEmonileavingthestateandwouldforceEJtorelinquishthewheeltosomeoneelse.Neitherofthosethingswasgoingtohappen.
“Emoniloveshome,andIdidn’twanttouprooteither,ordosomethingdifferent,orbesomewhereforeignwherewe’dhavetolearnawholenewsystemandnewpeople,”EJsays.
Sowithprepschoolnotanoption,EJBatesdidthenextbestthing.Hestartedhisown.
“Wedecidedtobetonourselves.”
(ScottW.Grau/IconSportswireviaGettyImages)
Wewon’tspeaktoEmonihere.Hewillremaindistant.
Inthecourseofreportingthisstory,itwassuggestedthatinlieuofaninterview,questionscouldbewrittenoutandsubmittedtoEmoni.“That,”saysCoreyWells,“ismorethan90percentofthemediacanget.Thedemandsforhimarecrazy.”
Maybethat’sforthebest.It’sworthrememberingthatdespitehowlongwe’veknownwhoheis,he’sstillonly17,akidwhohasgrownupstraddlingarocketship.Andreally,thisisn’tabouthim,asmuchasit’sabouteverythingaroundhim.
WellsworksasanintermediaryfortheBatesCampandtheoutsideworld.WhenEmoniwasyounger,EJwasaneffusivepromoterandeasilyaccessible.Nowadays,thewallsareup.Toomuchisontheline.WellsisessentiallydirectorofoperationsforYpsiPrep.Hegetsgamesscheduled(andrescheduledintheseCOVID-19times)andhandlesmediarequestsandtelevision.He’soneofthoseguys—boundingpersonality,deepbasketballties,knowseveryone.Asadayjob,WellsworkswithGregMathis,aformerdistrictcourtjudgeinDetroitwhonowworksinChicago.YoumightknowhimasJudgeMathis.Wellshasspentthelast18yearsasanaudienceproducerforhissyndicatedTVshow.
This,youwillsee,ishowitgoes:EveryonearoundBatessomehowhasamorecompellingstorythanthenext.Everydoorleadstoaroomwith10doors.
InEJ’scase,at44,hecertainlyhashisownstory.Unlikesomeotherfathersofsportingprodigies,heneverexpectedtobeinthisposition,aforebeartoavirtuoso.EJisjustaformerlow-levelballplayerwhonoticedwhenhispreschool-agedsonwasalreadyespeciallytallandespeciallyobsessedwithbasketball.EJdoesn’tseemtothinkthishasallbeenamatteroffate,butratheragiftoffaith.
That’swhatEmonimeans.Pronouncedwithaharde—Emoni—thenameisSwahilifor“faith.”
EJandEdithwerelivingintheCanterburysectionofYpsilantiwhenEmoniwasbornin2004.Theyhadmetacoupleofyearsearlierbychance.EJwasfriendswithEdith’solderbrother.Theyplayedsomeballinanadultrecleague.EdithandEJmetand“startedtakingalikingtooneanother,”asEJremembers.Thetwosettleddownandstartedraisingafamily.EJhadanoldersonfromapreviousrelationship.
Backthen,EJwasamanintransition.Hewas28andhisbasketballdayswereover.Asakid,EJwasaprettygoodhighschoolplayer.A6-foot-4forward,heaveragedalmost19pointspergameasajunioratMilanHighSchool,about15minutessouthofYpsilanti.HetransferredtoAnnArborPioneerHighSchoolforhissenioryear,earninghonorablementionall-statehonorsthere.
EJ’scollegeplayingdaysbeganatGrandRapidsJuniorCollege.Heaveraged17points,10boards.“Sortofa’tweener,”DavidSelmon,hisformercoach,describeshim.“Couldn’thandletheballwellenoughtobeaguardandwasn’tbigenoughtoplaythepost,”Selmonsays,“buthadjustarelentlessworkethic.Andhecouldshoot.”EJtransferredtoKentuckyWesleyanin1997,thinkinghewouldturnthejumptoDivisionIIballintoaDivisionIscholarship.Thatnevercame,nordidhisNBAdreams.
“Ihadthosevisions,butafterawhile,therealitysunkin—therearelevelstothisgame,andallyoucandoisgetinwhereyoucanfitin,”EJsays.“Ifyoucanplay,youstillcanmakealivingforyourself,sogoaheadandenjoywhatyoudoandplayatadifferentlevel.”
AfriendplayingproballinSwitzerlandtoldEJteamstherewerelookingforU.S.talent.Backthen,collegeplayerswouldsendVHStapesoverseas,hopingtocatchinterest.EJHebookedaflightandshowedupunsolicitedataproteam’strainingcamp.
Itworked.EJBateslandedacontractandplayedmorethanfiveyearsinLucerne,Switzerland.Hewould’veplayedlonger,buthemadeonecrucialmistake.Asarule,AmericanswereoftenadvisedtostayincontactwithotherEuroproteamsbeforereturningstatesidefortheoffseason,incasetheteamsneededalternatives.EJdidn’tdothat,andin2004hiscoachinSwitzerlandwasfired.EJdidn’thaveconnectionstolinkupwithanotherteam,soat28andwithasecondchildontheway,hisprocareerwasover.
NowwhatAsayoungerman,EJsayshelearnedsomelessonsthehardway,“madesomemistakes.”Tryingtomapouthisfuture,hefacedthedilemmasomanyathletescometoatsomepoint:StayinthegameormoveonOneoptionwastheGeneralMotorsfactory.EJ’sfatherworkedthereandEJpickeduphoursassummerhelpwhenhewashomefromSwitzerland.
“Themoneywasgood,notgonnalie,”EJsays.“Thinkitwas$27anhourButIjustcouldn’tseemyselfinthefactory,workingforthenext20-,30-plusyears.SoIhadtofigureoutsomeotherthings.”
EJtriedhishandatinsurancesalesandthemortgagebusinessforabit.Hardpass.Hekeptcomingbacktobasketball.
“Hadtostickwithmypassion,wheremylovewasat,”hesays.“Ididn’tcareifIhadtovolunteerorworkatacommunitycenter.Ijustthoughtitwasmycallingtobeinvolvedwithkids.”
Batesbegantrainingyouthbasketballplayers,formallynamingtheoperationBatesFundamentalsin2008.
Intime,youngEmonigrewtall.AndBatesFundamentalsgrewalongwithhim.
Onthecouch,shakinghishead,EJiswearingagrayBatesFundamentalssweatsuitbyNike.Headmitshavingnoblueprintforallofthis—forcourieringapotentialworld-classstarthroughadolescence.HowcouldtherebeHeandEdith,whoworksasaUPSlogisticscoordinator,triedtofigureitoutastheywentalong.AlltheyknewforsurewasthatEmonihadtheworldathisdisposalandtheworld,inturn,wasgoingtocomeafterhim.In2017,EJtoldAssociatedPresswriterLarryLage:“I’mhiscoachtokeepthesnakesaway.We’renotforsale.”
It’sremarkablehowquicklytimecanpass,howfamecancometofeelnormal,howaboybecomesayoungman,howyou’resuddenlyafewyearsolderandknowawholelotmore.Todayitisn’tamatterofwhatisorisn’tforsale.It’samatterofwhoisandisn’tincontrol.
Andthat’showyougeta44-year-oldformerbasketballplayertakingtheunprecedentedsteptocreatehisownschool.
It’s12:30p.m.onaThursdayinsoutheasternMichigan.It’s7:30p.m.inAmman,Jordan.
“Hadtogetaway,”MarwanIssasaysbyphone.
Issa,theCOOofGlobalEducationalExcellence,isinhiscondoinJordan.Thisiswhereheandhisfamilyareridingoutthepandemicwinter,insteadofathomeinAnnArbor.OfthemanyrabbitholesinEmoniBates’orbit,thisonegoestotheEastBank.
YpsiPrep’seducationalpartnerisArborValleyOnlineAcademy,a2-year-oldprivateonlineschooloperatedbyGlobalEducationalExcellence,a25-year-oldeducationalcompanyoverseeing550staffmembers,4,500students,14brick-and-mortarschoolsinMichigan,plusanonlinecharterschool.Amongitsstudents,GEEclaimsa98percentgraduationrateand92percentcollegeenrollment.
“Thisisnotsomethingthatjustpoppedup,”Issasays.
IssaisthesonofMohamadIssa,whoduringtheSix-DayWarin1967fledhisnativePalestinewithhisfamily,landedinarefugeecampinJordanandlatermovedhisfamilytotheUnitedStates.Thefamilyarrived“withoutapenny,”plantedrootsinMichiganandopenedAhmosDeliinAnnArbor.Mohamadmadehislivingbuildingaportfolioofrealestateholdingsinstudenthousingandbusinessleasing,thenshiftedintoeducation,foundingGEEin1995.Hesenthischildren,includingsonsMarwanandMahmoud,tohischarterschools.
Marwan,a2004UniversityofMichigangradwhogothisMBAfromtheRossSchoolofBusiness,eventuallytookonthefamilybusiness.Oflate,hecreatedArborValleyOnlineAcademyin2019tofillaniche—providinghighschooldiplomasforinternationalstudentsneedingspecificcredits.
“Theycancometoourprogram,gothroughtheonlinemodel,takethecoursestheyneed,finishtheirrequirementsandweissuethemaMichiganhighschooldiploma,”Issasays.
TheAthleticverifiedArborValleyOnlineAcademyiscertifiedwiththeMichiganDepartmentofEducationasanonpublicschool.AccordingtoMarwan,theschoolispartneredwiththeUniversityofToledotocreateapathwayprogramnotforathletes,butforstudentsprimarilyfromChina,VietnamandtheMiddleEastwhoattendedvocationalprogramsintheirhomecountriesandneededafewhighschoolcreditstoqualifyforU.S.collegeenrollment.
Turnsout,thisisanawfullyconvenientpartnerifoneislookingfor,say,aneducationalaffiliatetopairwithabasketballacademy.
Now,trytofollowalong…
Initially,inthesummerof2020,YpsiPrepwasintroducedasAimHighYpsiPrep.EJBateswasgoingtopartnerhisschoolwithAimHighInternationalAcademy,abasketballcharterschoolnearJackson,Mich.
AimHighopenedin2019and,astheAdrianDailyTelegramreportedatthetime,wasoperatedbyErikaErnst,whosefamily,includingfatherJerryandbrotherSteve,haslongbeenknowninMichiganhighschoolbasketballcirclesforoperatingcharterschoolsandcamps.
AccordingtotheIssas,AimHighoriginallyapproachedArborValleyOnlineAcademyaboutfunctioningastheschool’sonlineeducationcomponent.
Intheinitialplay,YpsiPrepwasgoingtobeasatelliteschooltoAimHigh,thusgainingaccesstoitsonlinecourses—coursesprovidedbyArborValleyOnlineAcademy.Additionally,JerryErnst,alongtimeMichiganhighschoolcoach,wasgoingtoserveasanassistantcoachatYpsiPrep.
This,inturn,broughttheIssafamilyintocontactwiththeBatesfamily.
“Iwasaroundtop-levelathletesatUofMallthetime,butI’veneverseenanythinglikehowEmoniworksout,”MahmoudIssasays.“Hedoesn’tstop.He’dmissoneshot,getpissed,andhavetomakethenext20tobesatisfied.”
(Amongallthecoachesandsourcesinterviewedforthisstory,thisnotion—thatit’sEmoni,notEJ,withthehyper-intenseneuroticworkethic—wasaconstant.OneformercoachwhoworkeddirectlywithEmoni,speakingontheconditionofanonymity,putsitlikethis:“Idon’tthinkEmoniistotallycomfortableinhisownskinandthatfeedshisobsessionwithbasketball.Ithinkhe’scomfortableasEmoniBatesthebasketballplayerandheplaysintothat.Onthecourthe’sanincredibleworkerandhedemandseveryoneelsematchhim.Outsidethebasketballworldhe’sashykid.”)
Assummer2020grewlate,AimHighleftMichigan,relocatingtoSouthCarolina.(“Duetopolitics,”anamelessschoolrepsaidinadirectmessageviaTwitter.)Atthispoint,EJrealizedhecouldsimplypartnerYpsiPrepwiththeonlineschoolrunbytheIssas.SoYpsiPrepdroppedAimHighfromitsname,partnereddirectlywithArborValleyOnlineAcademyandkeptmovingforward.
TheArborValleymodelissubscription-basedandpaidbyamonthlyfee—$400to$500permonthforaU.S.student,$1,000permonthforaninternationalstudent.Coursesaretakenoneatatime,onepermonth,asstudentsaccumulatethecreditstheyneed.Liveteachersareused,accordingtoMarwanIssa.
InordertopartnerwithYpsiPrep,ArborValleyhadtogothroughtheNCAAaccreditationprocess.“IthoughtIwasgonnafilloutsomepaperworkandbeallset.Ohno,notatall,”Marwansays.“Theywentthroughallourpolicies,allourrecords.AreyouusingcertifiedteachersWhat’syourmodelforteachingHowdoyouevaluatestudentsWhataretherequiredhoursHowdoyoumonitorthesehours”
TheAthleticconfirmedthroughtheNCAAHighSchoolPortalthatArborValleyAcademywasapprovedinSeptemberasofferingcourseworkviableforNCAAeligibility.
Withthat,YpsiPrepwasofficiallyopenforbusiness.Nikesteppedfrontandcenterasasponsor,asdidGatoradeandsomeMichiganbusinesses.TwomodesthomesnearMichiganStadiuminAnnArborwererentedtohousesixstudentseach.Apartnershipwasformedwithagym,BlueLionFitness,toserveasastrengthandconditioningcomponent.Asportspsychologistandachiropractorvisitthegymonceaweek.
DoesthisallsoundinsanetotraditionalistsYes.AndisthisaconventionalschoolNo.Butnooneisactinglikeitis.
Thequestionis,couldthisideasignalashiftinthelandscapeHighschoolbasketballhaslongbeeneasilycontorted.Backintheearly2000s,so-calleddiplomamillspoppedupacrossthecountryundertheguiseofcharterschools.Inrecentyears,basketballprogramsandprepteamshavecomeoutofnowhere,toutingpartnershipswithnearbyhighschoolsastheiracademicaffiliates.Thetypicalhighschoolsceneisfading.Nowtherearelayersofnationalprepprograms,fromthewell-establishedlikesofIMGAcademy,OakHillAcademyandMonteverdeAcademytoaslewofteams/schoolsplayingonTheGrindSession.
YpsiPrepisitsownthing.
Overtheyearswe’veseenparentsofstarplayersstarttheirowngrassrootsprograms.It’scommonplacebynow.TheNCAAallowsshoesponsorstofundthoseteamsdirectly.ButaschoolJoshJackson’smotherhelpedfoundProlificPrepandpartnereditwithNapa(Calif.)ChristianAcademy,asmallneighboringbrick-and-mortarprivateschool.It’sstillinoperationtothisday.JulianNewman’sfathercreatedthenow-defunctProdigyPrepinOrlando,which,accordingtoBleacherReport,heldclassesthroughFloridaVirtualSchool.Butthat’saboutit.
Forbetterorworse,it’sworthwonderingwhetherEJBatesjustcreatedhisownschoolorhisownmodel.
“Again,”hesays,“peoplefearwhattheydon’tunderstand.”
WhenvisionsofYpsiPrepweredawning,backbeforeanyonehadheardofcoronavirus,thegrandimaginationwasoftheBallboysplayingOakHillAcademyatapackedBreslinCenterinEastLansingorfacingSierraCanyonatLittleCaesarsArenainDetroit.
Biggames.Bigevents.NationalTV.Ticketsales.Exposure.Thewholedamnthing.
COVID-19changedallthat.Maybesomeday.
Instead,thisyearhasfeaturedsomemade-for-TVmatchupsamidaconstantlyshuffledschedule.InNovember,YpsiPrepplayedTeamSizzle,agrassrootsteamfeaturingtop-rated2021prospectChetHolmgren,inagamedeemeda“MichiganvsMinnesotashowcase”onESPN.TheBallboyshavetraveledtoplayaDuncanville(Texas)HighSchoolteamloadedwithDivisionItalentandaHenderson(Nev.)CoronadoHighSchoolteamwithstarFrankieCollins.
Asitgoeswithanyyoungking,though,it’sthepalaceintriguethathasdrawnthemostattention.
BackwhenYpsiPrepopeneditsfigurativedoors,EJneededtobringenoughgravityforhisstartobreathe.Upontheannouncementoftheschool’sopeninginlateJune,arosterwasdistributed,headlinedbymultiplefour-star,high-majorrecruits.TherewereapairofMichiganguards,JadenAkinsfromFarmingtonandJavaughnHannahfromMt.Clemens.ShawnPhillipsJr.,a6-foot-10center,camefromBelmont,Ohio.GuardDillonHuntermovedfromAtlanta.TheoriginalrosterwasroundedoutwithadditionalDivisionIrecruitsGenesisKemp,JohnMcCrear,OrlandoLovejoyandTre’monNorris.
Eightmonthslater,oftheoriginalnine,fiveremain.Sixnewplayershavebeenadded.
NodeparturedrewasmuchattentionasAkins’.LikeBates,thetalented6-foot-3guardiscommittedtoMichiganState.ThetwowerebilledasfutureteammatesinEastLansing,butAkinssplitwithYpsiPrepinDecember.Thereareconflictingversionsoverwhatwentwrong.TheAkins-Batesordealdrippedwiththedramathatmakesmessageboardsandsocialmediahum.
Eitherway,Akins,whocouldnotbecontactedforthisstory,reachedouttotheMichiganStatestaffuponleavingYpsiPrep,accordingtosources.AkinshadsignedhisnationalletterofintenttoMSUinNovember,andIzzoandtheSpartansstaffassuredhimoftheirsupport.MichiganStatethenconnectedAkinswithanewlandingspot—SunriseChristianAcademyinBelAir,Kan.,theformerhomeofMSUalumTumTumNairnandcurrentSpartanforwardMalikHall.AkinstransferredtheredespitehavingtosharethefloorwithKennedyChandler,perhapsthebesthighschoolleadguardinthecountry.
AkinswasreplacedatYpsiPrepbyJamalSumlinfromRhodesHighSchoolinCleveland,aplayerwhowasconsideredthebesthighschoolpointguardinnortheastOhio.
AsforYpsiPrep’sotherdepartures…
McCrear,a2023forwardfromDetroit,previouslyplayedalongsideEmoniatLincolnHighin2019-20.HetraveledwiththeBallboystotheiropeninggameatAmericanAirlinesArenainDallas,butsoontransferredtoLexington(Ky.)CatholicHighSchooltobeclosertorelativeVinceMarrow,whoistheassociateheadfootballcoachattheUniversityofKentucky.
ReachedbyphoneinLexington,McCrearsaysofhistimeatYpsiPrep:“Emoni’sdadputconsiderationintowhohepickedtogothereandIthinkIwasluckytobeoneof’em.ItwasthebestexperienceIeverhad,livingwithmyteammates,beingwiththoseguysallthetime.Asfaraseverythinggoes,itfelttomeliketheyhadeverythingplannedoutandknewwhattheyweregoingtodo.ItkindoffeltlikeanAAUteam,butitwasfun.”
LovejoycametoYpsiPrepfromSummitAcademyNorthinRomulus,Mich.,butoptedtogobacktoSummitbeforetheschoolyearbeganbecause“IjustfeltlikeIhadunfinishedbusinessandIwantedtoplayanotheryearathome.”
WhenitcomestoNorris,multiplesourcesatthe6-9forward’slastschool,RomulusHighSchool,saidtheywerecaughtoffguardbyhistransfertoYpsiPrep.NorrisneverappearedinagamewiththeBallboys,andit’sunclearwherehehaslanded.
TheRomuluscoachesarenottheonlybystanderswhosaytheywereblindsidedwhenYpsiPrepcametogether.Farmington’sTerrancePorter,whocoachedAkinsforthreeyears,foundouthisstarplayerwastransferringwhenafellowcoachsenthimanarticlelink.
“ThatwasthefirstIheardofit,”saysPorter.“HisdadeventuallyendedupcallingmelaterthatafternoonandJadenshortlythereafter,butthatwasthelasttimeIspoketothem.”
OfYpsiPrep’smultipledepartures,EJBatessays:“Attheendoftheday,I’mnottheirparents.Parentshavegottamakethebestdecisionsfortheirchildren.Ifthisisn’tthefit,I’mnotholdingyouhostage.Iwantyoutodowhat’sbestforyourchild.Ifyoufeelsomethingelseisbetter,that’swhatyoudo.I’mnotgonnafeelnowayaboutit.I’mjustgonnawishyouthebest—prayforyou,rootforyou,andhopeeverythingyoudo,youcanbesuccessfulat.”
AsfortherestoftheBallboys,they’recoachedbyCoreyTucker,whopreviouslycoachedtheBates’summertravelteam,andare8-2ontheseason.Threegamesremain,includingaMarch8showcaseagainsttop-rankedAZCompassPrepfromChandler,Ariz.AccordingtotheYpsiPrepwebsite,fiveplayersareaveragingdoublefigures.Emoniistheleadingscorerat23.0pointspergame,buthe’sonlyshooting35.9percentfromthefieldand24.5percenton3s,anaspectofhisgamelongconsideredtobeatthemostelitelevel.
CriticswonderifBates’gameisstillimproving.Theywonderifit’spossibletohaveateambuiltaroundonemonument.ThosewhocarpabouttheschoolmakeitsoundasifthosearoundBatesaren’tteammates,butareinsteadinthedownlineofamulti-levelmarketingscheme.
“TheycouldputLeBrononthatteam,andEmoniwouldstillbetaking75percentoftheshots,”oneMichigan-basedhighschoolcoachsays.
JavaughnHannahHesaysdifferently.Hemighthavebeenthesecond-besthighschoolsophomoreinMichigan(behindBates,ofcourse)ayearagoatMt.Clemens,butthendecidedtojoinforces.Hannah,whosegodfatherisCoreyWells,sayshewasmostattractedtoplayinganationalschedule,boostinghisexposureandbeingabletodovetailschoolandsportsmore.Hedoesn’tsoundoverlyconcerned,evenashisscoringhasdroppedfrommorethan31pointspergameayearagoto12.3pergamethisyear.
“Itwasabigdecisionformetoleavehome,butIhadtolookatthebiggerpicture,”hesaysbyphone.“Iobviouslyhadagreatsituationatmylastschool.Ididn’tfeellikeIwasgamblingbecauseoftheleveloftrustIhavefortheBatesfamily.It’spaidoff.It’swhatIwanted.”
AsforplayingalongsidethegravitationalpullofEmoniBates,Hannahsays:“Man,Emoniiswhatheis.He’stheNo.1playerinthecountry.Youcan’ttakenothingfromhim.He’sagreatplayer.Butit’snotaone-manshow.We’rehereforallofus.”
HannahisbeingrecruitedbyArizonaState,Marquette,Butler,SetonHallandIowa,amongothers.Hesayshisgamehasonlygottenbetterthisyear,ashashisrecruitingprofile,especiallywhenconsideringthealternative.DuetoCOVID-19concerns,theMHSAAseasonwasonholdthroughoutthewinter,meaninginrecentmonthsYpsiPrepwasoneoftheonly,ifnottheonly,Michiganhighschoolsplayingbasketball.
“Guessitworkedout,”EJBatessays,shouldersturnedup.
Ofallthesourcesinterviewedforthisstory,thoseexistinginandoutoftheBatescamp,nooneseemstobelieveEmoniwillplayatMichiganState.Instead,Batesmostlikelywillwaitforaprofessionalcontract,probablythemostlucrativedealtheGLeaguecanmuster,andturnprofessionalbeforeheadingtotheNBA.
“Asofnow,everythingstillstandsasitwas,”E.J.Batessays,wearingaknowingsmile.“Kidsarekids,andkidsmakedecisionsallthetime.MichiganStateisstilltheplacethatheloves.Theyembracedhim.Theyshowedhimloveandtheycontinuetoshowhimlove.They’vealwaysbeengoodtohim,soIdon’tseeaswitchuporanything.Now,ifthingschange,orsomeruleschange,youknow—whoknowsBecauseMichiganState,that’sonedream.TheNBAisanotherdream.Idon’tknow.Attheendoftheday,it’sEmoni’sdecisiononwhathewantstodo.”
There’saverygoodchanceYpsiPrepwillbeEmoniBates’lastnon-professionalteam.
WhyelsegotoallthistroubleWhybuildthisbrandWhygoall-inonsomethingthatamountstoastopgap
MaybeEJBatesisn’tkidding.MaybetheBallboyswillbearoundforawhile.
“TheremightbeaJVandavarsityteamnextyear,”hesays,eyebrowsraised.“Maybeagirlsteamtoo.Youneverknow.”
ThisishowEJspeaks.Theseopen-endedsentences.Thenhelooksatyouasiftosay,maybeI’mcrazyenoughtodoit,ormaybeyou’recrazyenoughtobelieveme.
“Yes,thisisaplatformtohelpEmonifortheremainderofhishighschoolyears,”EJcontinues,“butbeyondEmoni,Inowhave24(AAU)teamsofBatesFundamentalskids.Theydeserveanopportunity.SoYpsiPrepisavailabletothemaswell.
“Thisisnotaone-yearplanoratwo-yearplan.Iwantasmanykidsinthestateoraroundthecountrywhowanttobeapartofthistohavetheopportunitytodoso—tocontinuetogetbetterandcompeteonanationalstage.”
NowEJisnodding.
“WhatevertheycangetoutofYpsiPrep,Iwantthemtotakeadvantageofit.It’snotshuttingdown.It’snotallaboutEmoni.”
Perhaps.Orperhapsnot.ThosewhohavefollowedtheBatesoperationforthepastfiveorsixyearsmightscoffatasentencelike,It’snotallaboutEmoni.Butagain,thisiswhenEJBatescaststhatstareandleavesyouwondering.
Eitherway,there’sonlysomuchEJandEdithandeveryoneelsecancontrol.Theycan’tcontrolthecritics;can’tcontroltheeffectsofoversizedexpectationsfromyearsofhypeandhagiography;can’tcontroltheconcernsofthosewhowonderifEmoni’scurrentdevelopmentisstillonpacewithpastprojections.