College Basketball Star Emoni Bates Released From Jail After Arrest On Gun Charges

College basketball star Emoni Bates was arraigned Monday in Michigan and his attorney asked that he be immediately released from jail after he was arrested Sunday night on gun charges.

“They ordered his immediate release from jail on a personal bond,” attorney Steve Haney said Monday by phone, adding that a future court date was set for Oct. 6.

The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office said deputies in Superior Township pulled Bates over after he failed to stop at an intersection on Sunday night, as first reported by WXYZ in Michigan.

Haney confirmed that Bates was charged with two felonies for carrying a concealed weapon and obliterating a serial number on a gun.

The 6-foot-9 Bates, now at Eastern Michigan University, borrowed the car from someone else and maintained he was not aware there was a gun it, Haney said.

“It definitely was not his car and it was a car that was unregistered to him,” Haney said.

Haney said he didn’t believe the charges should jeopardize Bates’ status at Eastern Michigan.

“He’s presumed innocent, I would hope not,” Haney said. “Everyone should reserve judgment until the facts come out.”

Bates, who turned 18 in January, was the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2021 and appeared as a 15-year-old on the cover of Sports Illustrated along the headline “Born for This,” with a subhead comparing him to Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and LeBron James.

Still, after reclassifying and enrolling at Memphis last season, Bates had a disappointing year under coach Penny Hardaway, the former NBA star. He averaged 9.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while shooting 38.6% from the field.

In late June, he transferred back home to Eastern Michigan.

“I love my city and coming home to do something special was big for me. I’ve known several of the guys on the team from playing together and competing. Having a strong relationship and bond with my teammates and coaching staff was important to me,” Bates said in a statement.