Immanuel Bates cautious following return from shoulder surgery
Immanuel Bates might be a one-and-done this season in terms of games played for Fayetteville (N.C.) Northwood Temple Academy.
The NC State senior center signee made his season debut a week ago in the conference tournament quarterfinals following shoulder surgery on Dec. 7, scoring 13 points in the win. Northwood Temple Academy then played Fayetteville Village Christian in the semifinals, but Bates was held out for precautionary reasons. He watched fellow NC State center signee Ian Steere score 14 points, but Northwood Temple fell 82-72.
Bates, who Rivals.com ranks No. 121 overall nationally in the class of 2018, left the door open on playing again this season, but didn’t think it would happen. However, he feels his left shoulder is recovering well.
“It was an emotional week to finally be able to play and then being able to play,” Bates said. “It was our Senior Night, and it was a great experience. I was glad to finally be able to play.”
Bates figured he wasn’t going to play at all this year, so his debut was somewhat surprising.
The recoveryt was definitely long, and I had to be patient with it,” Bates said. “I had to take my time with it. That first half, I was rusty, and then I felt fine afterwards.”
The 6-foot-9, 215-pounder said his shoulder has felt good since playing against Fayetteville Christian.
“It’s just cautionary stuff, and that is why we are taking things slow,” Bates said. “I believe I could of played in the next game. I doubt I will play again, but I possibly could play.”
Watching his teammates this season go 14-18 without him wasn’t easy.
“It was hard, just watching them go out every night and give their all,” Bates said. “Some nights, it wasn’t enough, and I felt like I could have helped them win a few more games.”
Bates and Steere were among the visitors for both the Notre Dame game Feb. 3 and the North Carolina contest this past Saturday at PNC Arena. He hasn’t talked to signees Saddiq Bey or Jericole Hellems much, but did get to see senior guard target Anfernee Simons, Rivals No. 13 player in the 2018 class, during his official visit at the UNC game
“We had a lot of fun,” Bates said. “They’ve been playing great. The NC State coaches just told me to be patient and take it day-by-day.”
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