When rumors began trickling out 24- hours ago, State basketball fans’ heads started spinning. If there was one guy that seemed like a “for sure piece” to the 2021 Wolfpack team, it was Manny Bates.
Rumors have been corroborated by everyone from Pack Pride to Joe Giglio. Some think it might end with Bates entering the NBA Draft, others have heard that he has gained interest from other schools with bigger promises. Regardless, with him being the centerpiece of the defense and a great chance to elevate scoring and rebounding without Funderburk, there was mass confusion all around.
To only further muddy the waters, he was reportedly at a team meeting Tuesday afternoon. Craig Hammel, State’s Director of Athletics Communication and SID for the Men’s Basketball team tweeted;
In a reply tweet, he confirmed Manny was present.
To say this is a fluid situation is an understatement. No official word that Bates has entered the draft, nor had his name placed in the NCAA transfer portal. It does seem interesting, that if he were to leave for either of those situations and in the middle of the biggest State Basketball Twitter storm since Gottfried investigation, that he’d still be attending meetings.
Maybe Keatts can keep him onboard? Maybe it’s just a last appearance? We’ll break news as soon as it becomes available.
Let’s hope so. Great news it would be.