Mike Woodson‘s first commitment outside of the transfer portal came early Monday morning, as four-star Tamar Bates announced his commitment to Indiana. Bates was one of the top remaining uncommitted recruits in the class of 2021, specifically among shooting guards.

The 6-foot-4 guard is ranked top 60 nationally according to the 247Sports composite and ranked 12th among shooting guards. The IMG Academy player had originally committed to Shaka Smart and Texas, but decommitted in at the end of March once Smart left to take the Marquette job. Sports Illustrated and Stockrisers have reported Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Marquette, Illinois, Oregon, Purdue, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Washington, and Gonzaga all pursued Bates before he announced for Indiana.

The Kansas City native has stated in the past that his preference would have been to play for a Black head coach, which potentially became one of the key reasons that moved the needle for Indiana. Among Indiana’s head coach and three coaching assistants, the Hoosiers have three of four positions filled with Black coaches.

Bates will be immediately available for the Hoosiers in the class of 2021 as a freshman. His length and athleticism will likely allow him to play as a combo guard in college. He’s a left-handed scorer that can finish around the rim, shoot the ball deep, and penetrate in the lane. He’ll also distribute the ball as necessary.

Bates’ athleticism allows his to be pesky in passing lanes and tough inside a defensive scheme; however, he still has room for improvement in regards to one-on-one defense.

Featured Photo: @tamarbates on Instagram