Overview
Tamar Bates is from Kansas City, Kansas and began his collegiate career at Indiana in 2021-22. He started his first game as a sophomore, making five starts in 35 appearances that season. He then transferred to Missouri. As a junior, Bates started most of his games (25 of 32) and averaged 13.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists. He started all 34 appearances as a senior, averaging 13.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.3 steals in 25.9 minutes. He was also SEC Player of the Week in December of 2024 and was voted to the NABC Central District Second Team for 2025.
Analysis
Bates is an efficient scorer, shooting 51/40/95 as a senior with similar numbers as a junior. He’s primarily a play finisher rather than a setup man. He can hit the 3, but it’s also advantageous when he draws contact near the rim since he’s an elite free-throw shooter. Given his height, he’s also solid on the offensive glass. There’s defensive upside as well with a relatively high steal rate.
Projection
Bates projects as a complementary wing player at the NBA level and is projected as a second-round draft pick. He could draw comparisons to players like Norman Powell and Isaiah Joe. Many teams are looking for a knockdown 3-point shooter who can play defense. Bates may have to begin as a bench player, but he could scale into a starter.
— Profile by RotoWire.com