Despite restrictions put in place by the Texas high school sports governing body, the Thanksgiving Hoopfest will remain an event to watch on the 2020 basketball calendar.
The Dallas Morning News reported Thursday that
Emoni Bates and first-year program Ypsi Prep Academy (Ypsilanti, Mich.) will participate in the annual showcase.
Ypsi Prep Academy will take on 2019 Class 6A state champion
Duncanville (Texas) as part of a doubleheader Nov. 28 at American Airlines Center – home of the Dallas Mavericks – in front of a limited capacity audience.
247Sports has Bates pegged as the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2022. The 6-foot-8 forward put himself on the map as a freshman at Lincoln High School in Ypsilanti by averaging
28.5 points and 10.2 rebounds per contest, leading the program to its first ever state title.
Last season, the Michigan State commit earned MaxPreps National Sophomore of the Year honors. He averaged 32.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.2 steals per contest, including an incredible 63-point, 21-rebound performance in February.
Bates will be the focal point for Ypsi Prep Academy with a roster that is expected to feature Top 50 Class of 2022 prospect
Dillon Hunter, Top 100 senior
Jaden Akins and Top 100 junior
Javaughn Hannah among others.
The other matchup is yet to be determined, but it is expected to feature another pair of powerhouse programs.
The 2019 Thanksgiving Hoopfest featured 30 games but the event was forced to downsize to just two games this year because of a University Interscholastic League (UIL) ruling that limits events to a maximum of four teams at one site.
Emoni Bates in action last season at Lincoln.
File photo by Scott Hasse
