Pacersfan46
08-14-2005, 08:11 AM
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/index.php?page=college&story_id=080505c1_gardner
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Jersey honor for Gardner set for Aug. 14 at McKale
The University of Arizona will retire the basketball jersey worn by former All-American and 2003 Naismith Player of the Year Jason Gardner - two years after it originally was planned.
The ceremony will take place Aug. 14 at halftime of the Lute Olson All-Star Classic. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. in McKale Center.
"I'm excited because there are only three other jerseys that are retired," Gardner said. "Being a player who played for a Hall of Fame coach and a good coaching staff is great. And when I first went to UA there were some that thought I couldn't make it because I was a small guard. And now I'm getting my jersey retired, so it's a big thing for me and my family."
UA had planned to honor Gardner on Aug. 24, 2003, but he couldn't make it to Tucson for the ceremony, so the event was postponed.
Gardner, who wore No. 22 as a Wildcat, joins Sean Elliott (No. 32), Steve Kerr (25) and Mike Bibby (10) as the only UA men's basketball players to have their jerseys retired.
Only athletes who were recognized as national athletes of the year, or received a major national athlete of the year honor, are eligible for their jersey to be retired. Numbers are not retired, only the jersey is retired.
Gardner qualified by winning the Naismith Award, given annually to the nation's best player 6 feet or shorter.
The 5-foot-10 point guard from Indianapolis played for UA from 1999-2003. He earned All-America honors 12 times during his career, including six selections in 2002-03, when he was a first-team pick on the John Wooden team.
He was a three-time all-Pacific-10-Conference honoree and a five-time all-region selection.
He ranks in UA's top 10 in 13 different career statistical categories, including career 3-point field goals made (second/318), 3-point field goal attempts (first/875), steals (second/225), assists (third/622), games played (first/136), games started (first/135) and minutes played (first/4,825).
He is the highest-scoring guard in UA history (1,984 points) and ranks third on the career points scored list. Gardner posted per-game averages of 14.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.7 steals during his 136-game career.
He has played pro basketball in Europe since completing his eligibility, including the last two seasons in Belgium.
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WOOOO
Go Jason. Now get on an NBA team, ya bum. :D
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Jersey honor for Gardner set for Aug. 14 at McKale
The University of Arizona will retire the basketball jersey worn by former All-American and 2003 Naismith Player of the Year Jason Gardner - two years after it originally was planned.
The ceremony will take place Aug. 14 at halftime of the Lute Olson All-Star Classic. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. in McKale Center.
"I'm excited because there are only three other jerseys that are retired," Gardner said. "Being a player who played for a Hall of Fame coach and a good coaching staff is great. And when I first went to UA there were some that thought I couldn't make it because I was a small guard. And now I'm getting my jersey retired, so it's a big thing for me and my family."
UA had planned to honor Gardner on Aug. 24, 2003, but he couldn't make it to Tucson for the ceremony, so the event was postponed.
Gardner, who wore No. 22 as a Wildcat, joins Sean Elliott (No. 32), Steve Kerr (25) and Mike Bibby (10) as the only UA men's basketball players to have their jerseys retired.
Only athletes who were recognized as national athletes of the year, or received a major national athlete of the year honor, are eligible for their jersey to be retired. Numbers are not retired, only the jersey is retired.
Gardner qualified by winning the Naismith Award, given annually to the nation's best player 6 feet or shorter.
The 5-foot-10 point guard from Indianapolis played for UA from 1999-2003. He earned All-America honors 12 times during his career, including six selections in 2002-03, when he was a first-team pick on the John Wooden team.
He was a three-time all-Pacific-10-Conference honoree and a five-time all-region selection.
He ranks in UA's top 10 in 13 different career statistical categories, including career 3-point field goals made (second/318), 3-point field goal attempts (first/875), steals (second/225), assists (third/622), games played (first/136), games started (first/135) and minutes played (first/4,825).
He is the highest-scoring guard in UA history (1,984 points) and ranks third on the career points scored list. Gardner posted per-game averages of 14.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.7 steals during his 136-game career.
He has played pro basketball in Europe since completing his eligibility, including the last two seasons in Belgium.
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WOOOO
Go Jason. Now get on an NBA team, ya bum. :D