Ypsilanti, Michigan - No. 1 basketball transfer Emoni Bates revealed he will head back home to play for Eastern Michigan in a shocking announcement on Wednesday.

The No. 1 player in the men's college basketball transfer portal is off the market and will depart from the Memphis Tigers in surprising fashion.

Bates, also a former No. 1 high school basketball prospect, announced Wednesday that he will head to Eastern Michigan.

The star athlete released a list of six prospective schools to transfer to in early May, a group that included Michigan, Arkansas, DePaul, Louisville, and his choice, Eastern Michigan.

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Bates, a 6-foot-9 small forward, was considered one of the elite basketball prospects in the country throughout his high school career, ranking No. 1 in the 2022 class until he reclassified last summer and ended up at No. 3 in 2021.

Since entering his first season of college hoops, Bates has struggled to live up to his highly-ranked status.

He couldn't dial a consistent jumper, and injuries forced him to miss 15 games. He averaged 9.7 points per game on 38.6% shooting, 3.3 rebounds, and dished out 1.3 assists per game during his first season with the Memphis Tigers.

Still, even with his first-year challenges, it's clear the large-wing player has all the tools to make every shot on the floor and to become a superstar.

Bates was not eligible for the 2022 NBA Draft, as he is still 18-years-old following his reclassification and will not turn 19 until 2023.

Bates will immediately become the most high-profile player in the Mid-American Conference, where he will now gear up to play for an Eastern Michigan team that hasn't reached the NCAA tournament since 1998.