Top H.S. point guard commits to Arizona

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Jason Gardner

The 5-foot-11, 170-pound guard, who played with UA freshman Michael Wright on the gold medal-winning 1998 USA Men's Junior World Champion-ship Qualifying Team, faxed in his commitment yesterday morning, assuring the continu-ation of what has become a UA tradition of having quick, high-profile point guards.

Gardner, ranked as one of the top three high school point guards entering his senior year, said the ability to follow in the shoes of players like Mike Bibby and Damon Stoudamire in a high-paced style of offense was one of his main reasons in picking Arizona.

"Coach (Lute) Olson is a great coach," Gardner said. "He lets guards play within the offense. I like the up-tempo game. It just gives me the opportunity to do a lot more things."

Gardner, who turns 18 on Saturday, will likely compete for a starting spot immediately as he will be the only true point guard on the roster after the departure of current senior Jason Terry, associate head coach Jim Rosborough said yesterday.

Freshmen Traves Wilson and Ruben Douglas, who with the recent departure of Quynn Tebbs have been working as the back-up point guard with sophomore John Ash, are the only other players who could play the position.

"He should have a great shot at moving into the lineup," Rosborough said.

But Gardner, who won't play the first game of his senior season at North Central High School until Nov. 25, wasn't ready to claim the starting role quite yet.

"I have a chance at playing some minutes," he said. "It's a great opportunity for me. I'll have to work hard in practice but I think I've got a great chance (to start)."

Through his first three years at North Central, Gardner has already been named the 1998 Indiana Player of the Year by USA Today and the 1997 Indianapolis Star Player of the Year.

He averaged 21.4 points per game last season while shooting 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from beyond the three-point line.

North Central head basketball coach Doug Mitchell said one of Gardner's main strengths is his defense.

"He goes above and beyond the call of duty for a high school player," Mitchell said. "He really makes people miserable with his on the ball defending."

Mitchell added that Gardner is often quiet, but that he is not at all timid on the court.

"He'll dunk it," Mitchell said. "He just won't dance like a chicken when he does it."

Both Mitchell and Gardner said Gardner's experiences with AAU teams and the USA Junior National Team - he was the youngest player on the roster - would help him when he stepped into his first practice with Olson.

"It's a definitely a different level of play," Mitchell said about the transition to college ball, "but he's got things going for him that should make the transition easier for him than for others."

Gardner said he chose Arizona over other contenders such as UCLA, Stanford, Kansas, Indiana and Purdue because of Olson's reputation and the UA's school of business, where he plans to major.

He said the weather also played a factor in that it goes well with his exercise-induced asthma.

But before he can play at McKale Center, Gardner said he has a full schedule ahead of him.

Outside of his senior season, he also has plans to play in the Capitol Classic in Washington D.C. and hopes to participate in the McDonald's High School All-America game.

The one honor that stands above the others, though, is the title of Mr. Basketball in a state known for producing basketball legends.

"If I get Mr. Basketball, that would be something I would never forget," he said.

The Wildcats had also gotten a verbal commitment over the summer from guard Gilbert Arenas from Grant High School in Van Nuys, Calif., but as of late yesterday afternoon, it was still unclear if coaches had received his letter of intent.

Seth Doria can be reached via e-mail at Seth.Doria@wildcat.arizona.edu.