CAREER HONORS & AWARDS
Honorable Mention All-CUSA (2026)
CUSA All-Tournament Team (2026)

2024-25: Lone Bulldog to start all 34 games ... Played a team-high 33.4 minutes per game, going the distance eight times ... Totaled 410 points for a scoring average of 12.1 points per game, second best on the team ... Shot 37.0 percent from the field, 27.7 percent from three-point range, and 78.3 percent from the free throw line ... Registered 19 double-digit scoring games and was the team's scoring leader 10 times ... Also amassed 95 rebounds and 41 steals (second most on the squad) ... Dished out 202 assists, sixth most in a single season in program history (fifth Bulldog ever to reach 200) ... His 202 assists and 5.9 assists per game both ranked second in CUSA and top 25 in the country ... Posted at least five assists 23 times, tied for the eighth most in program history ... Tallied three double-doubles ... Had 10 points and 10 assists in CUSA opener versus UTEP (12/29) ... Posted 13 points and a season-high 15 assists against Jacksonville State (2/18) ... The 15 assists were the most ever by a Bulldog versus a CUSA opponent and tied for the second most in a single game in program history ... Best performance came in LA Tech's upset win at Liberty (3/5), recording a season-high 34 points while going 13-of-23 from the field and 6-of-11 from downtown ... Earned CUSA Player of the Week honors as a result ... Played all 120 minutes to help lead the Bulldogs to the CUSA Championship title game ... Averaged 20.7 points and 6.7 assists during the tournament ... Scored 29 points in the quarterfinals versus Middle Tennessee (3/12), the most ever by a Bulldog in a CUSA Tournament game.

2024-25: Appeared in 29 games while making four starts ... Totaled 134 points for a scoring average of 4.6 points per game, recording four double-digit scoring performances ... Shot 43.6 percent from the field, 31.7 percent from three-point range, and 67.3 percent from the foul line ... Also amassed 57 rebounds (2.0 per game), 49 assists (1.7 per game), and 22 steals (0.8 per game) ... Made Bulldog debut in season opener versus LSU-Alexandria, scoring one point on a made free throw to go along with five assists ... Tallied 10 points in a non-conference win over Georgia Southern (12/13), earning him CUSA Freshman of the Week honors ... Made first collegiate start at FIU (2/8), playing all 40 minutes in route to 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting as well as seven assists and three steals ... Came off the bench to put up 14 points at WKU (2/22) ... Started and played all 40 minutes at Sam Houston (3/1), scoring a season-high 20 points while also recording season highs with nine assists and four steals ... The performance earned him his second CUSA Freshman of the Week honor.   

PRIOR TO LA TECH: Ranked No. 32 player in the state of Texas by 247Sports and No. 5 player in the Greater Houston Area by RCS Sports ... Was one of 10 finalists for the Guy V. Lewis award, given to the best player in the Greater Houston Area ... Led Spartans to three district titles (2022-24) and two regional appearances (2023-24) ... Eclipsed 2,000 career points at Seven Lakes ... Averaged 20 points, six rebounds, four assists, and three steals per game ... TABC 6A All-State ... Three-time Texas 6A All-Region ... Three-time District 19-6A MVP, the first boys basketball player to ever accomplish this feat in Katy ISD ... Four-time First Team All-District selection ... Member of THSCA 6A Super Elite Team ... Newcomer of the Year in 2021.

PERSONAL: Full name is Anthony "AJ" Bates Jr. ... Son of Kolbe and Anthony Bates Sr. ... Three siblings: Aaliyah, Aariyah, and Aamyrah ... Born Dec. 30, 2005.