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Panthers sophomore fills his role very well

By KELLIE DIXON
Published February 13, 2007

LECANTO - Sophomore forward C.J. Gates looks unassuming standing in the hallway to the Lecanto gymnasium.

He is soft-spoken, and his 6-foot-1 frame, while sturdy and defined, isn't exactly intimidating.

But put him on the basketball court and something changes. Gates still doesn't say much, but his aggressive defensive game does the talking for him.

His statistics aren't gaudy. Among Lecanto players, Gates ranks sixth in scoring 7.4 points per game and fourth in rebounds (2.9). His name likely won't be mentioned first in a scouting report. Not before guard Bryan Hamer, forward Jared Brantley or guard Victor Cortes.

Still, Gates will be a key player when Lecanto (23-3) hosts St. Augustine (18-8) in Thursday's region quarterfinal. Crystal River coach Justin Orosz said ignoring Gates would be a mistake especially because of Gates' defensive capabilities.

"You can tell by watching him play it's a passion," Orosz said. "He gets after it."

Gates' toughness stems from afternoons spent on the court with his dad. He laughed that his dad would foul him just so he could make it in high school ball. In addition to family pick-up, Gates also plays AAU for the Citrus Wildcats and recently for the Ocala Stars.

"The pace was a lot faster than in high school," he said. "And the guys were a lot bigger and stronger."

So being physical doesn't bother Gates. He's happy to go after a loose ball or simply pester a ball-handler. That's his role. Fine by Gates. Gates loves taking the opposition by surprise.

"He is our lockdown defender," Lecanto coach Chris Nichols said.

"We put him on the best opposing player."

Cortes said, "C.J. is quiet, but he steps up when we need him. He's a real key contributor to this team."

That's true in more ways than basketball, Cortes added with a smile. Gates keeps the team up-to-date with the latest clothing styles and music. He's the reason Cortes has a brand new rap CD in his car.

He'll also have an impact for the Panthers on Thursday.

Kellie Dixon can be reached at kdixon@sptimes.com or (352) 544-9480.

[Last modified February 13, 2007, 06:24:00]