Congratulations to Davante!
http://www.suffolknewsherald.com/news/2010/may/28/gardner-earns-all-state-honor/
QuoteIt's been three months since King's Fork's basketball season came to a close, but postseason honors continue to come in for KF's senior center, Davante Gardner.
Gardner was named first-team all-state, becoming the third Bulldog to earn all-state honors in the last two years. Last year, JaQuan Parker was first team all-state and Player of the Year. Jamar Wertz made second team.
"It shows hard work does pay off and it further validates how good Davante has been for us at King's Fork," said KF head coach Joshua Worrell.
Gardner played on four straight Eastern Region Tournament teams for the Bulldogs. Gardner was the starting center in 2008-09 on KF's state championship team.
Within the Southeastern District, Gardner's helped lead the Bulldogs to three straight district tournament titles and back-to-back regular season championships. KF is undefeated in the district dating back to Feb. 2008.
This season, the 6-foot-8 senior averaged 23 points, 13 rebounds and three blocked shots per game as the Bulldogs went 24-3 overall.
Gardner has accepted a full scholarship from Marquette of the Big East.
Gardner saved some of his best games for the best opponents this past season, especially during the district and regional tournaments.
"It really doesn't matter what the game means or how big the game is, he's going to show up and play his best," Worrell said.
"He faced double-teams and triple-teams from just about everyone, but he didn't get frustrated. He kept working and kept playing. He just made sure he was doing everything he could to help our team win," Worrell said.
Worrell hopes the all-state awards in the past couple years become motivation for up-and-coming Bulldogs.
"We know we won't have another JaQuan or Davante," Worrell said. "But we can still have our new kids to work in the classroom and on the court and we have to work with them on what they do well."
"I think kids can see what hard work can do and see the respect you get by working hard," Worrell said.
"Gardner saved some of his best games for the best opponents this past season, especially during the district and regional tournaments."
Nice to see he plays well against solid competition. He may be more "BE Ready" than we think! I'm thinking this might be another great recruit for MU. I'm staying very positive about the upcoming season.
Congrats to Devante!
Again, I cannot reiterate how excited I am for this incoming class. We already had plenty of athleticism with JJones and Vander, quickness with Reggie, and now we've got some BEEF with Davante.
In the recent video that surfaced of Davante, it did look like he saw a lot of double and triple teaming. Anytime he made a post move 2 and 3 defenders collapsed on him. From the videa we saw Davante make some good passes out of double teams, as well as having the strength/agility to power through or around the doubles. I still feel he will need 1 year in the strength/conditioning program before being able to have much of an impact, but think he could be solid prospect and most skilled big at MU since Robert Jackson. Having said that, from the little I've seen of Gardner, he reminds me a lot of R-Jack. Lastly, being 1st team all state in Virginia is no joke - pretty good talent out there.
Awesome news!
Keep up that work ethic, Davante, because Buzz is gonna make you sweat this summer! ;D
Congrats Davante! yeah get ready to work! calcium supplements. remember to take your calcium supplements! Stengthen your bones.
Let's hope he follows Chris Otule as the first couple in a series of successful Marquette bigs.
Yeah, that's the ticket. Buzz replicates Al's run of Chones-Lackey-Lucas-Ellis-Whitehead-Toone. It's been done before.
The Warriors have built a tradition on superior guard play. But it's not like large men have never earned a fat NBA paycheck after attending Marquette.
I am also very excited about this incoming class and I am hoping it stays whole. Gardner looks to be a player - I can't wait to see him play at Marquette. Buzz will work this team hard this summer - if Otule stays healty (my gut says YES he will), and Garden can come in with some good productive minutes, some blocks, rebouds - wow. With our guards, this could be a decent team. Lots of freshman, and we'll see lots of freshman mistakes, maybe TOs, but I think the core is a great foundation.
GO MARQUETTE!!
Quote from: downtown85 on June 03, 2010, 04:05:51 PM
Congrats Davante! yeah get ready to work! calcium supplements. remember to take your calcium supplements! Stengthen your bones.
Or raw-whole-milk. ::)
Quote from: downtown85 on June 03, 2010, 04:05:51 PM
Congrats Davante! yeah get ready to work! calcium supplements. remember to take your calcium supplements! Stengthen your bones.
[/quote
Especially your feets.