• Name: K.J. Bates• Height: 6-foot-1• Weight: 175 pounds• Hometown: Memphis• Last school: Arlington High School• Stats: Averaged 12.2 points per game, leading Arlington to Class AAA state semifinals
Editor's note: This is the first of four Tuesday features highlighting University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's basketball coach Will Wade's newcomers for the 2014-2015 season.
According to Will Wade, K.J. Bates has a special trait to him. That was enough for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga basketball coach to give the unsigned senior from Arlington High School in Memphis a walk-on opportunity.
"He has a knack for winning," Wade said. "Everywhere he's been, they've won."
Bates comes into the 2014-15 season with nothing more than the knowledge that he'll be given a chance to contribute to the Mocs this season. During his high school career, he helped lead Arlington to the Class AAA state semifinals -- their furthest advancement in school history, even more impressive considering the level of competition in Memphis and the road those schools have to take just to get out of the talent-laden city and to the state tournament.
Bates, who early in the recruiting process had considered Southeast Missouri State and Freed-Hardeman, was Arlington's first-ever 1,000-point scorer.
With sophomore Greg Pryor and senior Ronrico White the only point guards currently on the UTC roster, there could be an opportunity for Bates to earn some playing time.
"We had practice last week at 6 in the morning, and at 6 last night he was in my office breaking down plays," Wade said. "He has winning qualities and knows what it takes to win. That's hard for coaches to find. We're fortunate to have him because he has what it takes to win."
Now the freshman, the son of a high school and a middle school principal, just has to take advantage of the opportunity.
"Coach told me when he gave me the chance to play here that playing time is earned in practice, and the opportunity to earn a scholarship is there," Bates said recently. "You have to have an extra edge to yourself in practice because you have to do a little extra to earn your time. You can't take days off; I'm working out with GP (Pryor), doing ball-handling and shooting drills to get better."
The 6-foot-1 guard, who is also talented playing the violin, piano and guitar but admitted he "doesn't have the free time anymore," took a chance on his basketball future by not committing early in the recruiting process. He decided to put his chips into his senior season, which despite its success -- both teamwise and individually -- didn't bring the options he'd hoped for.
"It's tougher than you know," Bates said. "Initially I had more options, but when I waited, some of those schools became a little less patient and they passed on me because they figured I had no interest."
Bates spent the summer playing for an AAU team of unsigned seniors in Memphis, which is where Wade found out about him. Now he's found a home and has adjusted to it, and he is focused on doing whatever to help make the Mocs successful this season and beyond.
And he's done it smiling -- a very common trait of his.
"I guess I'm just a happy person," he said. "Smiling takes the stress out of things. School has been exciting, and I've learned a lot since I've been here and adjusted to a new home, a new authority and a new way of how things are governed.
"I'm happy with where I am, though. It's been tough, but it's been that way for any athlete. I'm just happy I've been given this chance."
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.