ay Bates’ days are definitely numbered as an NIU basketball player, but his time playing at the Convocation Center may not be. I Still a student at NIU, Bates worked out with the CBA’s Rockford Lightning twice in the past month and is hopeful about making the team come the Sept. 16 draft. I “We’ve worked out Jay at a few of our camps, and we are going to continue to work him out,” said Chris Daleo, Lightning coach and CBA Coach of the Year.

The Lightning may look for a local product, as it will play four home games at the Convocation Center in the 2003-’04 season: Dec. 27, Jan. 9, Feb. 21 and Feb. 27.

“We try to sign as many local kids as we can,” Daleo said. “He plays extremely hard; he’s a very physical player. We average 128 points a game and we press the entire time, so Jay fits into that.”

The 6-foot, 187-pound graduate of Chicago Robeson is taking summer classes in DeKalb and is set to graduate NIU in December.

If he makes the team, Bates hopes he would be able to kill two birds with one stone and finish his degree while playing with the Lightning.

“The season doesn’t start until November, and I would try and commute [to NIU from Rockford] for a month,” he said.

The CBA rule is that each team is required to have at least one rookie – someone who just graduated college, which is what Bates would be classified as. Daleo said the team hasn’t had more than one rookie on the roster in the past, and it doesn’t expect to this year either.

Former NIU guard Stephon Jones (1999-’01) also is working out with the Lightning. Jones, if picked up by the Lightning, wouldn’t be classified as a rookie, but as a free agent.

At the end of the CBA season, every player is classified as a free agent, but players who suited up for the Lightning last year include former Farragut High School star Ronnie Fields and University of Florida high-scorer Ted Dupay.

Last season, in helping the Huskies to a 17-14 record, Bates averaged 10.7 points, 3.4 assists and two steals a game. However, he had four three-point field goal attempts all year, which is something Daleo has noted.

“I have yet to see him shoot the ball extremely well from three-point range,” he said. “When we have him back in for workout he’s got to show that he can shoot that.”