Davante Gardner expected to announce on Monday. eom

[TallTitan34]

A thread was created on the premium board on the other site at 4:05 with the title USF.

I can't read the post, however.

[Lighthouse 84]

ok who has access to Rivals?  Here's what it says but you need to be a member:



Big East for King's Fork's Gardner
05/03/2010 VirginiaPreps.com
King's Fork (Suffolk, VA) big man Davante Gardner ended the long recruiting process on Monday, deciding to head to the Big East. Find out if the All-State 1st Team selection and Southeastern District Tournament MVP chose South Florida or Marquette in this developing story...

[Cooby Snacks]

A clue:

http://marquette.scout.com/a.z?s=415&p=8&c=1&nid=4357987

[TallTitan34]

http://marquette.scout.com/a.z?s=415&p=9&cfg=bb&c=8&yr=2010

Commits page has him listed as MU.

[MUCrew]

Uh oh...now what to do with the roster...

[copious1218]

http://marquette.scout.com/a.z?s=415&p=9&cfg=bb&c=8&yr=2010

Commits page has him listed as MU.

Yes, but that site also says DJ-New hasn't signed is LOI yet.

[texaswarrior74]

Yes, but the same page says Newbill has not signed his LOI....not sure how trustworthy the info is.

oops...cross posted with copious

[SD Warrior]

The long awaiting end to the recruiting process for King's Fork's Davante Gardner came Monday as the 6-foot-8, 280-pound big man from Suffolk has decided to continue his basketball career in college with Head Coach Buzz Williams and the Marquette Golden Eagles of the Big East.

It came down to two schools for the interior force nicknamed 'Big Ox.'  Gardner chose Marquette over another Big East school which he visited last month, South Florida. 

"They did a good job recruiting him and they built that relationship early towards the end of November and into December.  They kept plugging along with him, and he got up there for an official visit for their last home game, which was their Senior Night," said King's Fork Head Basketball Coach Josh Worrell.  "It took him a while to figure what the best situation would be due to the fact he got another offer from South Florida and South Florida was more recent.

Williams and assistant coach Aki Collins from Marquette made sure they were extremely visible during the entire recruiting process.  A chance to play immediately also lured Gardner.

"The coaches there at Marquette knew from the three-point line in on both ends of the floor exactly what he could do, and they think he can be very successful there," added Worrell.  "Granted, they believe he's going to need lose some more weight just like any other program stated to be in even better physical shape.  They won quite a few games this year with a 6-7 big kid that played in and out.  They needed that one inside presence, and they let Davante know you're the big guy we're recruiting and the one big guy we're recruiting."

 

Davante Gardner picks Marquette!
For King's Fork, it is the fourth Division I player for the program in two years.  Jaquon Parker signed with Cincinnati, also out of the Big East, a year ago and guard Jamar Wertz went to University of Maryland Baltimore County.  Gardner's twin tower teammate, Jay Copeland, signed last week with Ball State out of the MAC.

Selected 1st Team Group AAA All-State by the VHSCA, Gardner scored 1431 points and collected 992 rebounds in his Bulldogs career.  During his junior season he put up 15.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game for the Bulldogs as they won the State Championship. 

The numbers were even better in 2009-10.  This past season Gardner scored more points than any other player in the Eastern Region.  He finished up his senior year averaging 22.6 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game for a Bulldogs team that has gone 55-4 in their last 59 games.

Combining great footwork and touch with muscle and power, Gardner was ultra consistent all season long for King's Fork, scoring no less than 14 points in any game and notching 21 double-doubles.  Gardner, an All-Eastern Region 1st Team selection as well, was named the MVP of the Southeastern District Tournament and helped King's Fork claim their third straight district tournament title as well as their second consecutive regular season league crown. 

"They feel if he gets played one-on-one he has that skill-set with his footwork, hands, being able to shoot that mid-range jumper, get his body ready before the ball gets there," Worrell remarked on Gardner.  "If they can win 20, 22 or 24 games without a big man, what's going to happen when they get one?"  They let him know if you were just a low post guy who couldn't do anything else, we really wouldn't recruit you.  But he can shoot the ball, handle the ball, can move and do a lot of things that a lot of big guys can't do.  They were really impressed by that."

Marquette went 22-12 overall last season, falling to Washington 80-78 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.  The program has recorded five consecutive 20-plus win seasons, all resulting in trips to the NCAA Tournament.

Gardner joins a 2010 recruiting class for the Golden Eagles that includes Pennsylvania Class AA Player of the Year Devonte' 'D.J.' Newbill, Junior College Player of the Year Jae Crowder, small forward Jamail Jones, guard Reggie Smith and five-star point guard Vander Blue.

"I've known him since sixth or seventh grade and his transition of becoming a very good basketball player took hard work and time for him," noted Worrell.  "He put a lot into it, and from one year to the next, losing some weight made his game that much better this year.  He could play a long period of time without rest and still be effective on both ends, and I just see him getting that much better at Marquette by losing 20 more pounds.  He can put the ball in the hoop.

[nyg]

The "BIG OX". Now thats a nickname.  Welcome to MU and at 6ft 8, 280 lbs. the big man intimidator has arrived. 

Get to the gym with the staff and I hope this works out. 

[TallTitan34]

The article above mentions he is 280lbs. but I've seen as high as 300.  Anyone have an idea what the real number is around?  Is this like how Prince Fielder is listed as 270?

[copious1218]

The article above mentions he is 280lbs. but I've seen as high as 300.  Anyone have an idea what the real number is around?  Is this like how Prince Fielder is listed as 270?

I've seen reports that he lost weight this season so I'm hoping the 300 is the old and the 280 is the new.  At least he is 6'8".  Fielder is 270 and only 5'11".

[Brewtown Andy]

The article above mentions he is 280lbs. but I've seen as high as 300.  Anyone have an idea what the real number is around?  Is this like how Prince Fielder is listed as 270?

Worrell says he lost weight this year in that article, so I'm guessing the 300 was coming into his senior year?  Also says he could probably manage to get down to 260.

[nyg]

The article above mentions he is 280lbs. but I've seen as high as 300.  Anyone have an idea what the real number is around?  Is this like how Prince Fielder is listed as 270?

Thats why I mentioned the gym.  Some sites also have him at 6ft 7, others at 6ft 9.  He could be a Glen Davis clone or a Lloyd Moore prototype.  Lets hope for the Baby Davis thing.  

[muwarrior87]

I don't think that that's exactly what was posted.  If that was the rule, would Forzena really be turning down what would probably be almost full (if not completely full) academic ride just so he could be an (essentially) non playing member of the team?

Frozena has almost a full ride academic schollie and is able to walk on. Question answered.