Five-star junior Jason Gardner Jr. gives massive update on recruitment
With many five-star recruits, the journey is different. Some can put up massive numbers as high school freshmen, some need time to develop and adjust.
Fishers High School (Indiana) star guard and five-star recruit Jason Gardner Jr. is a perfect example of making a massive leap from freshman year to his sophomore campaign.
The 6-1 guard averaged just six points during his freshman campaign. His sophomore year was a completely different story as Gardner averaged over 14.5 points per game and broke Fisher's single-season assists record with 162.
Safe to say, Gardner Jr. is a star and is primed for a massive junior campaign.
He was also just granted an invite to USA Basketball’s junior national mini camp.
Gardner Jr. sat down with Stockrisers.com to discuss the latest on his [very busy] recruitment, which includes a massive influx of programs varying from all different conferences.
Which schools are heavily involved?
”Pretty much everyone is involved. Ohio State, Texas, Kentucky, Florida, Purdue, Indiana, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Cincinnati, Creighton, Iowa, Louisville, that's just to name a few.”
Have any newer schools shown interest?
”North Carolina, Wake Forest, Maryland, Minnesota, and Oregon.”
Thoughts on Kentucky?
”I like them a lot, and they say how well I fit in with [Mark] Pope’s offense and how dynamic a point guard I am.”
How about Iowa, and what are they pitching?
”Pretty much the same thing. They play differently, but always have shooters, and the way I draw attention and collapse the defense and able to kick out, how he runs his offense.”
How about North Carolina?
”They produced a lot of good guards. Hubert Davis really lets his guards rock and really lets them play, and they play super fast. I like to play fast.”
How about local programs like Purdue and Indiana?
”Indiana and Purdue both say I’m a huge target for them, and Coach Painter has dealt with multiple different types of guards. With DeVries, his offense that was used at West Virginia, and having Javon Small last year, he compares me to him and how well he played in his system.”
How about Louisville?
”Coach Pat [Kelsey] has really turned them around, and obviously, he lets his guards rock out and play really fast. He’s been doing well as a coach and really turning it around.”
Outside of your current planned visits, are you working on others?
”Florida, Iowa, Texas, Creighton, and Indiana.”
Will those be this fall as well, or closer towards the spring?
”I think Texas and Creighton in the spring and Florida, Iowa, and Indiana in the fall.”
How would you best describe your game?
”Really dynamic point guard. Athletic, quick, twitchy with a really good first step. Good in ball screens, a good IQ, and knows when to score and knows when to get teammates involved.”
How would you like to improve?
”Being more consistent and confident in my jumpshot because, once I get that down, I think I’m the hardest player to guard.”
Gardner Jr. currently has five planned visits: Notre Dame (10/4), Kentucky (10/18), Purdue (10/25), Ohio State (11/1), and Cincinnati (11/15).
He also told Stockrisers.com that Louisville, Wake Forest, North Carolina, and Iowa will be in for him this Wednesday.
