Five-star junior Brandon Gardner talks timeline, pro route, & more.
One of the hottest commodities in the 2023 class hails at Word of God (N.C.) Christian Academy.
His name is Brandon Gardner.
I’m sure many of you are familiar with the super-dynamic, 6-foot-8, dynamo of a prospect. He’s made drastic leaps in the game of basketball since he started playing the game just about four years ago. College coaches are raving about this kid, it’s simple.
One word I’d use: Upside.
Coaches like the fact that Gardner is proving to be more than just a freak athlete, he’s been able to improve very important aspects of his game and is evidently working on improving his skillset. Gardner has been working on his three-point shot a lot.
He’s also becoming a threat off the dribble and has caused havoc for defenses all season long.
My personal favorite part of Gardner’s game is his defense. His ability to affect every single shot around the rim and be a menace in the paint, it’s just very fun to watch. As I mentioned earlier, his high motor and his athletic ability also are beneficial for him on the defensive end and that has been made clear.
His upside and terrific play have been reflected in his recruitment.
Gardner’s top ten includes Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgetown, Georgia Tech, Kansas, LSU, Memphis, St. John's, and Overtime Elite.
He discussed where things currently stand in his recruitment with Stockrisers.com.
Which schools remain heavily involved?
“Schools that are heavily in the mix are Auburn, St. John’s & Georgetown.”
Is the Professional Route still being considered?
“The pro route is still being considered.”
Real quickly, wanted to ask about Auburn and your thoughts on them?
“My thoughts on Auburn are mainly on their program and how great of a college city it is. Auburn is where you can work to get where you want to be in life, it’s truly like a family.”
How about Georgetown?
“Georgetown is a great program and they have been recruiting me since my freshman year. They are coached by the legend Patrick Ewing and they have a beautiful campus.”
And what about St. John’s?
“St. John’s and I developed a great relationship with their coaching staff this year. I love everything about them, they play fast, and the place they play at is Madison Square Garden, their fan base calls me Madison Square Gardner and I think that is [really] cool.”
Are any other visits being planned?
“I have schools interested in me visiting but I haven’t made that decision just yet.”
Let’s talk about your game, where do things stand with your development?
“My game is evolving every time I get on the court. I may shoot threes, I may dunk, or pull up for the 15-footer. I make it a point to work on everything since I have the advantage of being long, bouncy, with a 7-foot-1 wingspan.”
Commitment timeline?
“I am planning to commit next month sometime.”