Reports: Utah State basketball improves depth with two commitments
Apr 24, 2026, 8:30 AM | Updated: 11:26 am
LOGAN, Utah – The Utah State men’s basketball roster is coming together after the reported addition of point guards AJ Bates and Ace Reiser.
Multiple reports indicated Bates and Reiser will be USU teammates for the 2026-27 season.
RELATED: USU adds sharpshooting guard in NCAA transfer portal
NEWS: AJ Bates will transfer to Utah State, he tells @TheAthleticCBB.
He averaged 12.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 5.9 assists last season at Utah State
LOVE this fit, Bates will thrive under Ben Jacobson. BIG GET for Utah State pic.twitter.com/lGkmayx15k
— Tobias Bass (@tobias_bass) April 18, 2026
Bates recently concluded his sophomore season with the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs.
Reiser enters his sophomore campaign after a year in the junior college ranks with the Southern Idaho Golden Eagles.
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Who is Ace Reiser?
Ace Reiser comes to Utah State after a solid season with CSI.
Before becoming a Golden Eagle, Reiser averaged 13.9 points, 5.7 assists, and 1.7 steals as a senior with the Alta Hawks.
He finished his prep career averaging 9.6 points, 4.1 assists, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 63 games between Bingham and Alta.
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The 6’0″, 165-pound South Jordan, Utah native played nearly 37 minutes a night while starting all 28 games at CSI.
He averaged 15.1 points and 3.9 assists while shooting 49.5 percent from the field and 46 percent (58-of-126) from the three-point line. Defensively, Reiser added 2.4 steals and, despite his smaller frame, managed to grab 5.1 rebounds.
Reiser brings local recognition, while Bates offers two seasons of D1 experience
Who is AJ Bates?
Originally from Houston, Texas, 247Sports rated AJ Bates as the No. 32 player in Texas in the 2024 class.
His Seven Lakes High School teams won three district championships and made two regional appearances during his junior and senior seasons.
Bates became the first boys basketball player to ever be named a three-time District 19-6A MVP.
He averaged 20 points, six rebounds, four assists, and three steals during his prep career.
RELATED: Utah State basketball bets on continuity with Ben Jacobson
LA TECH WINS IT
Louisiana Tech is moving on to the CUSA Semifinals after an 80-69 win over Middle Tennessee
Player Of The Game
AJ Bates
29 pts
6 ast
6 stl— MagicBallSports (@magicballsports) March 13, 2026
Bates appeared in 29 games as a freshman, making four starts for the Bulldogs. He averaged 4.6 points per game and was named Conference USA Freshman of the Week twice.
He was the only La Tech player to start all 34 games during the 2025-26 season, earning All-CUSA Honorable Mention.
The 6’3″, 200-pound guard was second on the team, averaging 12.1 points a night. He reached double-figure scoring 19 times and was the leading scorer ten times as a sophomore.
Bates also showed strong playmaking chops. His 5.9 assists ranked second in CUSA and 24th nationally.
AJ Bates is about unstoppable right now. @LATechHoops @CBSSportsNet pic.twitter.com/AQNxSLoh3u
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 13, 2026
Bates was named to the CUSA All-Tournament Team after leading Louisiana Tech to the conference championship game.
He paced the Bulldogs with 56 points and 12 assists combined in the first two rounds.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
