Bates Named Toughest Player to Score on in ACC

10/28/2021 9:39:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Anonymous poll was conducted of ACC Players by The Athletic

NC State redshirt junior forward Manny Bates was named the toughest player to score on in the ACC in an anonymous poll conducted by The Athletic.

Through two seasons, Bates is on pace to become the program's all-time leader in blocked shots. He enters his junior season with 147 career blocks which is fourth all-time on the program's career blocked shot chart. He is just four blocks from moving into third place on career blocked shot list.

Bates is trying to become the first ACC player since Duke's Shelden Williams (2004-06) to lead the ACC in blocked shots in three consecutive seasons.

Last season, Bates averaged 2.7 blocks per game in 24 outings. In his redshirt freshman season, Bates blocked 83 shots, which were the most by a freshman and the third-most in a single season in program history.

The Pack plays its lone exhibition contest of the preseason on Monday night when it hosts Elizabeth City State inside PNC Arena at 7 p.m. Tickets for the game are free.