6A Player of the Year Gates commits to Iowa Western
October 7, 2013
By Sean McCann
Prep Baseball Report Kansas
Wichita, KS – The reigning Kansas 6A Player of the Year Jared Gates (Wichita Northwest HS, Class of 2014) informed Prep Baseball Report Kansas of his decision to attend Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa on a baseball scholarship tonight. Gates had called the Iowa Western coaches to verbally commit earlier in the day.
Gates gained much recognition following his junior campaign in which he hit a remarkable .612. The 6-foot-1, 180 pound left-hand hitting shortstop is ranked #133 in the Class of 2014 Prep Baseball Report Overall Player Rankings – Prep Baseball Report covers high school baseball on a state-by-state basis in 11 states currently. In addition to the KABC 6A Player of the Year award last spring he was also named First Team All-State Shortstop and First Team All-City Shortstop.
Gates visited several junior colleges and Division I schools the last several weeks.
"I'm excited to finally make a decision. I liked all of the schools I visited and it was a tough decision. Me and my family put a lot of thought into it," Gates said. "I felt like Iowa Western was the best fit for me. I think anyone you talk to in baseball knows about Iowa Western's track record of winning and developing players."
"When I visited their campus they had like 12 Division I schools at their practice. It was surreal to see that as well as their facilities," Gates added.
Iowa Western, which currently has 5 players on its roster from Kansas high schools, captured the NJCAA National Championship in Grand Junction, Colorado, in 2010 and 2012.
Gates remains focused on his goal of someday playing at a high-end Division I college baseball program in the future.
"I have a lot of work ahead of me before I can be an everyday player at the Division I level. I know that. I need to mature physically. I need to improve as an infielder. My baseball IQ needs to get better."
Gates intends to ink his commitment to Iowa Western on the NJCAA signing date of January 15, 2014.
Click here to see Gates' PBR profile with game video of him hitting earlier this fall.