Biography

BIOGRAPHY

Keita Bates-Diop was born on January 23, 1996 in Sacramento, California to Richard and Wilma Bates. He is a small forward in the NBA.

Bates-Diop played for University High School in Normal, Illinois. He averaged 18.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks as a junior. He was considered one of the top 5 candidates for Illinois Mr. Basketball by the Chicago Tribune. Bates-Diop was ranked no. 24 nationally in his class.

As a sophomore at OSU, he averaged 11.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. Bates-Diop earned his first Big Ten player of the week honors on December 11, 2017, after notching a career-high 27 points in a 97-62 win over William & Mary. On January 9, 2018, Bates-Diop was recognized as the Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week by the United States Basketball Writers Association after strong performances against Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball and Michigan State. Bates-Diop tied a then-career high with 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in a victory against Iowa. Against top-ranked Michigan State, he scored a career-high 32 points in an 80-64 win. He also received his second Big Ten player of the week recognition. Bates-Diop received his second consecutive player of the week nod on January 15, with a 26-point, eight rebound outing in a 91-69 win.