OT: ECU freshman Jayden Gardner

[tcf15]

East Carolina got a steal - looks like they could end up with back-to-back freshman of the year awards.

Unranked kid from North Carolina with reported offers from low- to mid-majors like James Madison, Grambling State, Richmond, Campbell, Winthrop, High Point, etc.

He's 6'6", 245 and currently averaging 19.4 points and 9.5 rebounds per game - he just had 35 points and 20 rebounds on the road against UCF.



Here's his game log on the season:

 

[awfuldan]

I don't think I could stomach losing to ECU two seasons in a row. Bet this kid kills us either way though. He put up video game numbers against UCF? Damn.

 

[SouthBayHusky]

Wow. We may be losing another conference doormat in ECU. Suppose it’s good for the league overall

 

[mauconnfan]

Wow didn't realize he was this good. Nice pick up for ECU, I guess Coach K and Roy only go by rankings huh?

 

[tcf15]

I don't think I could stomach losing to ECU two seasons in a row. Bet this kills us either way though. He put up video game numbers against UCF? Damn.

With how much UConn fouls and sends its opponents to the line and Gardner currently third in the nation in fouls drawn per 40 (8.4), he could feast.

 

[mauconnfan]

The funny thing if they're saying 6'6" he's 6'5" best and he's one of those guys who many of the big programs overlook every year. Look how Colson escaped our grasp and why? Because he's smaller and people are afraid of what his impact will be on the next level. We haven't had enough of these guys. Freeman, Adrien maybe a Heyward as a back up but very very few. We've seen many who have hurt us though.

 

[mauconnfan]

With how much UConn fouls and sends its opponents to the line and Gardner currently third in the nation in fouls drawn per 40 (8.4), he could feast.

20 plus FTs coming

 

[HawkHusky]

Tulane's the only AAC doormat now. Tough year to rack up conference wins.

 

[husky429]

Tulane's the only AAC doormat now. Tough year to rack up conference wins.

Ultimately, this is a good thing though. I think we could be the 4th best basketball conference in a couple years, easily. Maybe better.

 

[3rdbass]

I guess will see a lot of zone against ECU.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

I think a good strategy may be to just let this kid go and see if he can put up 75 points himself.

 

[Kenny11]

Tulane's the only AAC doormat now. Tough year to rack up conference wins.

If at the end of the conference season there are several teams with solid conference records but some losses because they all got beat by each other, will the AAC get respect for being "deep" or get dismissed as being mediocre?

 

[FlippinCrazy!]

Ultimately, this is a good thing though. I think we could be the 4th best basketball conference in a couple years, easily. Maybe better.

This was supposed to be a down year for the AAC, but it’s shaping up like a 4 bid league (UCF, Temple, Houston, Cincy), with potential to add another (one of USF, SMU, UConn). Only bad team is Tulane. Pretty impressive, next year is the year the AAC becomes a top 4 conference in my opinion.

 

[FlippinCrazy!]

If at the end of the conference season there are several teams with solid conference records but some losses because they all got beat by each other, will the AAC get respect for being "deep" or get dismissed as being mediocre?

Likely mediocre judging on past seasons, but I completely disagree. AAC is deep this year. Wichita state and SMU losing a good amount of OOC games hurt though

 

[jibsey]

The funny thing if they're saying 6'6" he's 6'5" best and he's one of those guys who many of the big programs overlook every year. Look how Coles escaped our grasp and why? Because he's smaller and people are afraid of what his impact will be on the next level. We haven't had enough of these guys. Freeman, Adrien maybe a Heyward as a back up but very very few. We've seen many who have hurt us though.

We don’t like players that are over 200 pounds because it slows down our break and we can’t run. Lean and mean is how we roll.

 

[ucawn]

This will end up being a good b-ball conference if the price is right. I could see it falling apart in the grant of rights, especially if other conferences show interest. It’s nice to see the bottom tier getting better. Defiantly helps with the resume, a win on the road is worth more now. It could be a 5-6 bid league in 3 years if keeps trending in the right direction.

 

[Doctor Hoop]

Wow didn't realize he was this good. Nice pick up for ECU, I guess Coach K and Roy only go by rankings huh?

So do we, apparently. At least we do on the BY.

 

[ucawn]

Poor ECU could’ve had this guy and Elijah Hughes. Could’ve been a top team in the conference.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

Ultimately, this is a good thing though. I think we could be the 4th best basketball conference in a couple years, easily. Maybe better.

In this scenario, who are 1-3?

 

[Chief00]

The funny thing if they're saying 6'6" he's 6'5" best and he's one of those guys who many of the big programs overlook every year. Look how Colson escaped our grasp and why? Because he's smaller and people are afraid of what his impact will be on the next level. We haven't had enough of these guys. Freeman, Adrien maybe a Heyward as a back up but very very few. We've seen many who have hurt us though.

And the famous Ryan Gomes.

 

[Chief00]

Congrats to Coach Chill. Looks like the staff is identifying talent and coaching the players up.

 

[tcf15]

Frosh Watch: East Carolina's Jayden Gardner wins Freshman of the Week honors after absurd 35-and-20 performance

7. JAYDEN GARDNER, East Carolina
Key stats: 19.4 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 1.0 spg, 29.2 PER
Jayden Gardner has been a revelation for East Carolina. He's gone from off-the-radar three-star recruit to the leading scorer in the American Athletic Conference, regardless of classification, as a true freshman. At 6-6, 245 pounds, Gardner is dominating AAC competition with his rare ball skills and shot-creation that is a rare combination from a player his age -- especially one that, according to KenPom.com data, plays primarily at the center position. Gardner capped an overall solid week started by an 18 point, eight rebound game against Memphis by scoring 35 (a new career-high) and grabbing 20 rebounds (also a new career-high).

 

[UConnStats]

Congrats to Coach Chill. Looks like the staff is identifying talent and coaching the players up.

Gardner committed to ECU in 2017, while Chillious was at UConn.

 

[tcf15]

Gardner committed to ECU in 2017, while Chillious was at UConn.

blaze baby blaze

 

[Chief00]

Gardner committed to ECU in 2017, while Chillious was at UConn.

Please re-read my post. I was aware of that aspect. I did not mention recruiting. I mentioned identifying talent and coaching it up.
It’s amazing how so many are so eager to find something wrong - and that foolish eagerness creates an error itself.