Augusta, GA -- Head Basketball Coach Gary Tuell announced on Wednesday that Augusta State University has signed William Gates to a scholarship for the 2001-2002 season. Gates is the first player to sign during the early signing period during Tuell’s four-year tenure at the school.
Gates, a 6-7, 205-pound forward, attended Butler High School and lettered three seasons in basketball from 1994-1997. He was a senior captain with the Bulldogs, averaging 19 points and 12 rebounds per contest.
Out of high school Gates signed with Butler Community College in Kansas. After an initial redshirt season in 1997-98, Gates averaged 11 points and eight rebounds during his freshman season, helping Butler's nationally-ranked team to a 24-10 record. Following his first year at BCC, Gates chose to sign with the University of Idaho for the 1999-2000 season, where he played in 12 games before suffering a season-ending ankle injury.
"We're very excited to receive this commitment from William," states Tuell. "He is one of the finest young men I've met in all my years of coaching and will bring character, leadership and a great work ethic to our program. It's taken us three years to land a local prospect and hopefully William's decision will help to open the door for other local players to stay home and play at ASU. William is the kind of person, student and player that we want in our program and I couldn't be more excited about his decision. This gives us a great head start on the 2001-2002 season."
Gates is currently enrolled at Augusta State as a part-time student and will have two years of eligibility remaining. He is the son of Dennis and Joyce Gates of Augusta. He has one sister, Octavia, who is also a student at ASU.