Jayden Gardner

Jayden Gardner
Gardner in 2022
No. 1 – Rasta Vechta
PositionPower forward
LeagueBasketball Bundesliga
Personal information
Born (2000-05-14) May 14, 2000 (age 24)
Durham, North Carolina, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High schoolHeritage
(Wake Forest, North Carolina)
College
NBA draft2023: undrafted
Playing career2023–present
Career history
2023–2024Kortrijk Spurs
2024–presentRasta Vechta
Career highlights and awards
  • First Team All-ACC tournament (2023)
  • First-team All-AAC (2021)
  • Second-team All-AAC (2020)
  • Third-team All-ACC (2022)
  • AAC All-Rookie Team (2019)

Jayden David Darrel Gardner (born May 14, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for Rasta Vechta of the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL). He played college basketball for the Virginia Cavaliers and the East Carolina Pirates.

High school career

Gardner played for Heritage High School in Wake Forest, North Carolina for four years. He averaged 22.9 points and 15.1 rebounds per game as a junior and was named CAP-8 Conference Player of the Year and First Team All-State, leading his team to a 28–2 record.[1][2] As a senior, Gardner averaged 24.3 points and 13.9 rebounds per game. He led Heritage to the NCHSAA Class 4A state championship game, where he recorded 30 points and 13 rebounds.[3] He was named Northern Athletic Conference Player of the Year and was a First Team All-State selection.[4][5] Gardner finished high school with the second-most points behind Donald Williams and the most rebounds and free throws made in Wake County history.[1] He was rated a three-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals and committed to play college basketball for East Carolina over offers from Penn State and VCU, among others.[6]

College career

East Carolina

In his third game at East Carolina, on November 11, 2018, Gardner recorded 30 points and 10 rebounds in an 84–78 overtime win over Lamar.[7] He became the third freshman in school history to score at least 30 points in a game.[8] On November 21, Gardner posted 28 points and 17 rebounds in a 76–64 victory over Prairie View A&M. Six days later, he tallied 30 points and 15 rebounds in a 95–86 loss to UNC Wilmington, becoming the first-ever American Athletic Conference (AAC) freshman with multiple 30-point games.[9][10] On January 13, 2019, Gardner posted a career-high 35 points and 20 rebounds in a 76–65 loss to UCF. He became the first East Carolina player since 1966 with a 30-point, 20-rebound game and the first freshman in AAC history to record at least 35 points or 20 rebounds in a game.[11][12] Two days later, he was named USBWA National Freshman of the Week.[13] As a freshman, Gardner averaged 16.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, setting school freshman records for rebounds and free throws and AAC freshman records for points per game and free throws. He led all NCAA Division I freshmen in free throws, with 171, and registered 10 double-doubles.[4] He was a five-time AAC Freshman of the Week and was unanimously selected to the AAC All-Rookie Team.[14]

On November 5, 2019, Gardner made his sophomore season debut, tallying 28 points and 11 rebounds in an 80–68 win over VMI.[15] On January 1, 2020, he recorded a season-high 29 points and 10 rebounds in a 75–69 loss to Wichita State.[16] Gardner scored 29 points again and grabbed a season-high 19 rebounds in a 69–59 loss to Houston on January 29.[17] Gardner became the third-fastest East Carolina player to reach 1,000 career points in a February 12 loss to Tulsa.[6] On February 23, he scored 29 points for his third time during the season, while grabbing 13 rebounds in a 67–63 victory over Temple.[18] As a sophomore, he averaged an AAC-leading 19.7 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, posting 13 double-doubles, and was named to the Second Team All-AAC. He averaged the third-most points in school history.[19] As a junior, Gardner averaged 18.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, earning First Team All-AAC honors.[20]

Virginia

On April 12, 2021, Gardner transferred to Virginia for his final two seasons of eligibility, choosing the Cavaliers over offers from Arkansas, LSU, Miami, and NC State, among others.[20] All Division I athletes who played in the 2020–21 season gained an extra year of eligibility.[21] On December 3, he scored 15 points and hit the game-winning putback shot in a 57–56 win against Pittsburgh.[22] Gardner was named to the Third Team All-ACC.[23]

In the Cavaliers’ 2022–23 season opener, Gardner reached the 2,000 career point milestone becoming one of few players ever in D1 to achieve 2,000 points and 1000 rebounds in a career. Gardner helped Virginia capture another ACC regular season championship. Lead the Cavaliers to the ACC championship and got rewarded First Team All ACC Tourbament Team. Leading the Cavaliers to a 4 seed Gardner made his first ncaa tournament appearance.[24] On January 8, 2023 he recorded his 1,000th rebound, joining an exclusive list of Division I players who reached both the 2000-point / 1000-rebound milestones.[25]

Professional career

Kortrijk Spurs

Gardner signed with the Kortrijk Spurs on July 20, 2023 for the 2023-24 season.[26] Gardner had a very successful rookie year in Belgium averaging 15.3 ppg 6 Rbs 1.1 ass a game shooting 50%fg and 34% from 3pt[27]

Rasta Vechta

On August 3, 2024, he signed with Rasta Vechta of the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL).[28]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2018–19 East Carolina 31 31 30.6 .493 .200 .750 8.5 1.3 .8 .5 16.3
2019–20 East Carolina 31 30 34.3 .521 .200 .734 9.2 2.2 1.1 .5 19.7
2020–21 East Carolina 19 18 35.1 .479 .500 .737 8.3 1.4 .6 .2 18.3
2021–22 Virginia 35 35 32.7 .501 .214 .793 6.4 1.4 .5 .4 15.3
2022–23 Virginia 33 33 26.3 .510 .000 .685 5.8 .7 .9 .5 12.0
Career 149 147 31.5 .503 .226 .741 7.5 1.4 .8 .4 16.1

Professional

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
[[2023–24

BNXT League |2023-24]]

Kortrijk Spurs 25 32 28.1 .50 .34 .64 6 1.1 .6 .3 15.3

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Stevens, Nick (March 11, 2018). "Jayden Gardner cements himself as one of Wake County's best". HighSchoolOT. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  2. ^ Long, Chris (February 17, 2017). "Gardner Wins POY, Numerous Huskies Receive All-Conference Honors". The Heritage Herald. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  3. ^ Blake, J. Mike (March 10, 2018). "Heritage falls to Independence in NCHSAA 4A boys basketball championship". The News & Observer. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Jayden Gardner". East Carolina University Athletics. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  5. ^ Blake, J. Mike (June 21, 2018). "Northern Athletic all-conference teams, 2017-18". The News & Observer. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Igoe, Stephen (February 12, 2020). "Jayden Gardner third-fastest Pirate to reach 1,000-point club". 247Sports. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  7. ^ Berry, Blair (February 19, 2019). "ECU's Jayden Gardner turning in terrific freshman campaign, and looking for more". Sporting News. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  8. ^ "Gardner, LeDay Lift ECU Over Lamar In Overtime". East Carolina University Athletics. November 11, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  9. ^ Anderson, Sam (January 15, 2019). "Jayden Gardner just keeps adding to a stellar freshman campaign". 247Sports. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  10. ^ Igoe, Stephen (January 13, 2019). "Gardner's effort not enough to upset UCF". 247Sports. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  11. ^ "Gardner's Big Game Not Enough For ECU To Take Down UCF". East Carolina University Athletics. January 13, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  12. ^ Lindsay, Mark (January 13, 2019). "Jayden Gardner Gets 35 Points and 20 Boards but ECU Falls to UCF". Rivals. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  13. ^ Boone, Kyle; Norlander, Matt (January 15, 2019). "Frosh Watch: East Carolina's Jayden Gardner wins Freshman of the Week honors after absurd 35-and-20 performances". CBS Sports. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  14. ^ "Jayden Gardner unanimous selection to the American All-Freshman Team". WITN-TV. ECU Athletics. March 11, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  15. ^ "Gardner Leads ECU Past VMI". East Carolina University Athletics. November 6, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  16. ^ "Gardner drops 29 as ECU falls short at No. 24 Wichita State". WITN-TV. Associated Press. January 1, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  17. ^ Igoe, Stephen (January 29, 2020). "Jayden Gardner's monster night not enough against No. 21 Houston". 247Sports. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  18. ^ "Gardner Scores 29 As ECU Topples Temple". East Carolina University Athletics. February 23, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  19. ^ "Jayden Gardner tabbed second-team All-AAC". WITN-TV. ECU Athletics. March 10, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  20. ^ a b Oakes, Jamie (April 12, 2021). "Breaking: UVA lands transfer commitment from Jayden Gardner". 247Sports. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  21. ^ "What Does the NCAA Extra Year of Eligibility Mean for Recruiting?". NCAA. Accessed April 12, 2021.
  22. ^ "Gardner's last-second shot falls, Virginia wins ACC opener". ESPN. Associated Press. December 3, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  23. ^ "ACC Unveils 2021-22 Men's Basketball Awards" (Press release). Atlantic Coast Conference. March 7, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  24. ^ Franciulli, Jacquie (November 8, 2022). "Everything Virginia head coach Tony Bennett said in win over North Carolina Central". 247Sports. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  25. ^ Baller, Aidan (January 7, 2023). "Virginia Holds Off Syracuse 73–66, Bennett Becomes UVA's Winningest Coach". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  26. ^ "Virginia's Gardner signs pro contract with Belgian club". 21 July 2023.
  27. ^ "BNXT League".
  28. ^ "Stretch Four": Gardner Ist Rastas Neuer Power Forward!". rasta-vechta.de (in German). August 3, 2024. Retrieved October 1, 2024.