Bates is one of the most highly talented players in Ohio and, without question, one of the best scorers in the state. Going into his senior year, I expect him to be not only a great leader for Pickerington North but also one of the focal points in the event. He’s a really smart, shifty guard who scores the ball with efficiency and confidence. His ability to create his own shot from anywhere makes him a nightmare to defend, and his composure shows why he’s ready for the next level.

All Ohio Red qualified for the PIT after they finished the EYCL season as one of the top teams in their division. Bates was a crucial piece to that team with his ability to score the basketball and set the table from the point guard position. Playing for his dad at the high school level, Bates sees the game at an advanced level and has winning characteristics. Concord offered Bates before the July live periods and I’d expect more scholarship programs to come calling throughout his senior season.

Bates was what I would call a star at the event. He’s a bona fide playmaker who’s passes just had the extra zip. Bates delivered bounce pass feeds to the post and to cutters when and where they needed to be. His jumper was next level. It was quick, strong and confident and snapped through the net. Bates was able to create looks with his handles and had no difficulty hitting mid range and deep jumpers of the bounce.

Bates is going to have a huge senior year. He is already on a great path with how he has played in AAU and now in June. This continued at Midwest Live, one of the biggest stages of the year for high school hoops. In the game I watched, he was the biggest factor on both ends of the floor. He was the focal point on offense, and he knows that. He has the ultimate green light and confidence to score the ball at a high level. He has unlimited range and can shoot the heck out of the ball. He is really good at attacking slower defenders off the dribble and attacking pressure. When he gets in the lane, he has great touch but also can find teammates when someone helps too much. Then defensively, he guards the other team’s point guard and makes their job of bringing the ball up extremely difficult. He has a great ability to pickpocket ball handlers and did this multiple times in the game I watched.

I’ve been really impressed with the growth Bates has shown me over the past 4 months. For starters, Bates competed at a high level in a district final with a short-handed group that almost pulled off the upset thanks to his timely shot-making ability. I’ve also been impressed with Bates production and leadership with All Ohio Red , helping them have one of the best records on the EYCL circuit. The son of Pickerington North Head Coach Jason Bates, Jr brings winning qualities from the point guard position and is a name to watch from central Ohio.

The individual match-up between Bates and McClure was as fun as any I’ve seen this postseason and while they weren’t guarding each other for a majority of the game, they were going back and forth handing out buckets against the top perimeter defenders each side could throw at them. Early in the game Bates had it rolling with a pull-up mid-range shot, a top of key 3-pointer and some layups at the rim including a sweet acrobatic finish in transition. Battling through injury late in the game, Bates had a pair of steals that led directly to layups and played his heart out on the court. One of the more impressive stock risers this season, Bates has taken a huge jump from Sophomore to Junior year.

Bates set a tone in this big-time OCC – Ohio battle. He did this on the defensive end. He applied a ton of on-ball pressure to the primary ball handlers. He caused them to start their offense way out on the court making it difficult for New Albany to score. He caused a couple turnovers. If you were loose with the ball around him, he took it. His length really showed with his ability to pick-pocket the ball handlers. He then got going on the offensive end in the second half. He hit 4 threes in the 3rd quarter. He got hot and didn’t miss from deep. Showed a deep range. He also showed an improved ability to create his own shot. Bates has improved a ton since the last time I saw him play.

Bates was a player that impressed me with his performance on Friday night. He was ready for the big stage against a good Richmond Heights team. He scored the ball well and was someone that played free. He scored the ball at the rim well and attacked Richmond’s pressure well. Bates always was locking down the talented guards of Richmond. He showed me that he will be ready to win the big games Pick North will play this year. 

Bates showed tonight that he is a really good secondary ball handler for Pick North who brings an authentic scoring threat that the defense has to respect. He showed good ability to use the defenses close-outs against them to create shots and plays for teammates. He showed a good presence in the passing lanes and got a good amount of pokeouts. 

Bates showed his ability to convert shots early and often. He let the game come to him and took what the defense gave him throughout the day. He was also able to find open teammates. Bates has a good grasp of the game and stays within himself. He wiggles well to the bucket in the half-court.