Indiana guard Tamar Bates to enter the transfer portal

  • 03/28/2023 7:22 pm in

Indiana sophomore guard Tamar Bates is entering the NCAA transfer portal.

Bates, who originally signed with Texas and Shaka Smart out of IMG Academy in Florida, reopened his recruitment in the spring of 2021 after Smart departed Austin.

Mike Woodson and the Indiana coaching staff quickly pursued Bates and landed his commitment in April 2021.

A four-star prospect and the No. 30 player nationally in the 2021 recruiting class, Bates spent two seasons in Bloomington, but his production was inconsistent.

As a sophomore, Bates shot 37.4 percent on 3s in 35 games. He averaged 6.1 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 20.4 minutes per game.

His best game in an IU uniform came against Michigan State on Jan. 22, 2023 at Assembly Hall. Bates scored 17 points and made five of six 3-pointers.

But that performance against the Spartans proved to be the high point for Bates. Over IU’s next 16 games, he scored in double figures just once and went scoreless seven times.

The 6-foot-5 guard, a native of Kansas City, shot 0-for-13 in Indiana’s two NCAA tournament games against Kent State and Miami (FL). Bates scored a total of nine points in four NCAA tournament games for the Hoosiers.

He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining at his next school.

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