Mike Woodson may have found the ideal high school recruiting target to address his need for perimeter shooters.
Tamar Bates is a 6-foot-5 native of Kansas City who who has played a starring role for one of the nation’s top programs at Bradenton (Fla.) IMG this season.
Bates asked to be released by Texas from his national letter of intent after former Longhorns’ head coach Shaka Smart departed.
According to Jake Weingarten, Indiana is involved with Bates’ recruitment along with Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Marquette, Oregon, Illinois, Missouri, and Purdue.
Bates is ranked No. 56 in the country in the class of 2021 according to the 247Sports Composite. He is also the No. 14 shooting guard in the country.
“Bates is a high scoring guard who can attack the rim, bomb away from deep and he’s one of the top perimeter defenders in the class of 2021,” wrote 247Sports Director of Recruiting Eric Bossi a couple weeks ago when Bates asked for his release from Texas.
Prior to playing his senior season at the IMG Academy where he helped lead that team to the GEICO Nationals, Bates played for Piper High School in Kansas City (Kan.). As a junior, he averaged 22.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Bates was a 44 percent three-point shooter who shot 58 percent from the floor overall and 88 percent from the free-throw line in 2019-20.
“Bates has a nifty scoring game as a left handed shooting guard,” wrote 247Sports Director of Scouting Jerry Meyer in December. “He can make shots from deep and is shifty on the dribble and a creative finisher in traffic. There is also the value of being a versatile defender who has a knack for disrupting the action.”
Smart also commented on Bates when he signed with the program.
“Tamar is a tremendous competitor with a versatile skill set on both ends of the floor,” Smart said in November. “He brings incredible spirit and energy to the court which will allow him to make a smooth and immediate transition.”
Prior to selecting Texas, Bates considered Creighton, Kansas, and Missouri among others. He has stated publicly that he had a preference for playing for a black head coach.
Indiana currently has 12 players projected to be on scholarship for the 2021-22 season with two openings. On Friday, Woodson said shooting was the primary focus to fill the remaining spots.
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