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High-flying guard-forward Anthony (AJ) Gaines Jr. is back for a second season with the London Lightning.

The six-foot-four Louisiana College alumnus made huge leaps with the Bolts in his first season, becoming one of the team’s best defenders while averaging 14.1 points in 45 games, mostly off the bench.

Lightning coach Doug Plumb said the Shreveport, La., native continued to improve over the National Basketball League Canada off-season and he appears ready to “take his game to the next level.”

“He’s the quintessential gym rat,” Plumb said. “He loves the game and he loves being in the gym. . . . He’s humble and he’s willing to learn, but he still has that serious competitive streak, which shows in the way that he plays. His motor is second to none. He’s go, go, go all of the time.”