Anthony Bates Jr.

East Carolina Pirates men's basketball fans should be elated about the addition of Kaden Cooper, a 6’5” wing transfer from Louisiana Tech Bulldogs men's basketball. This past season, Cooper averaged: 9.7 PPG 7.7 REB 1.1 AST Across two seasons at Louisiana Tech, Cooper totaled nearly 600 points and 500 rebounds while helping lead the Bulldogs to back-to-back 20-win seasons. Cooper is an extremely active and impactful wing with elite athleticism and nonstop energy. His activity on the glass and ability to play above the rim consistently changed games. One of the best dunkers in college basketball this past season, Cooper threw down 35 dunks and constantly created extra possessions with his rebounding and motor. He’s a must-box-out player who thrives off effort, physicality, and athleticism. He has also shown flashes of stepping out and knocking down perimeter shots, adding even more intrigue to his long-term upside, with potentially 2 years of eligibility if the 5 year rule passes. With his activity level, athleticism, rebounding, and overall impact, Cooper is an outstanding addition for East Carolina. @kaden580

Utah State Aggies men's basketball landed one of the top floor generals in college basketball with the addition of AJ Bates, a 6’3” guard transfer from Louisiana Tech Bulldogs men's basketball. In an outstanding season, Bates averaged: 12.1 PPG 2.8 REB 5.9 AST (Top 25 in NCAA) Bates is a terrific lead guard who consistently makes the right reads and thrives operating out of pick-and-roll actions, especially when hitting rollers and manipulating defenses. He’s also a very capable scorer with a strong frame and the ability to knock down shots from outside, giving him legitimate offensive versatility. Bates helped lead Louisiana Tech to the CUSA Championship Game and earned All-CUSA Tournament Team honors. One of his best performances came on the road against Liberty late in the season, where he exploded for 34 points and 6 threes. Elite point guard heading to Utah State. @Ajbates___