Basketball was his favorite sport so he transferred to
Eastern Michigan University to play basketball. He played there part of a season, subsequently played at two junior colleges and eventually landed at
Kent State University in northeast
Ohio. Gates spent two seasons as a Golden Flashes power forward where he led the team to the MAC championship and an Elite Eight spot in 2002 and to the MAC championship game the following season, during which he averaged 20.6 points per game, 4.1 assists, and 7.7 rebounds per game.
After being told by scouts that he was too much of a "
tweener" (6'4") to make the
NBA, Gates arranged a workout in front of NFL scouts. As many as 19 teams were believed to have contacted Gates about a try out. Gates chose to work out first for the San Diego Chargers. Recognizing his enormous potential, the Chargers immediately signed him to a contract as an
undrafted free agent.</p>