Drew Gordon
Encyclopedia
Drew Gordon is an American college basketball player for the New Mexico Lobos men's basketball team. Born in San Jose, California
, Gordon began his college career at UCLA
, yet transferred during his sophomore year to the University of New Mexico. Since his transfer, Gordon has garnered a number of accolades for his play as the starting center
for the Lobos, giving New Mexico a dominating inside presence that "few players that can compete with... in the MWC".
in San Jose, California
as a four-year varsity letterwinner and three-time All-West Catholic Athletic League first team selection who led the Monarchs to three West Catholic Athletic League
championships. During his senior year, Gordon notched 17.5 points per game and 10.5 rebounds per game in eleven games before being sidelined by an ankle injury. However, that injury had minimal impact on his season and the recognition accrued therein as he was not only invited to play in the 2008 Jordan Brand Classic, but was also named a 2008 member of Long Beach Press-Telegram's Best in the West first team as well as the 2007-08 Les Schwab Invitational most valuable player. In his junior campaign, Gordon registered 15.1 points per game, 10.4 rebound per game, 2.4 assists per game, 2.3 steals per game and 4.1 blocks per game, as he shot 63.8% from the floor, 50.0% from three-point range and 70.2% from the line and led 26-9 Archbishop Mitty to number 9 in USA Today's polls for the West Regional. Again, Gordon racked up honors, being named both 2007 San Jose Mercury News Player of the Year as well as the 2007 Cal-Hi Sports Athlete of the Year. In addition, Gordon was also named second-team EA Sports 2007 All-American, and a 2007 All-California State first-team selection. As a sophomore in 2005-06, Gordon averaged 14.7 points per game, 10.1 rebound per game, 1.7 assists per game, 2.4 steals per game and 3.9 blocks per game as he was named the 2006 Cal State Sophomore Player of the Year, All-California Interscholastic Federation third team, All-Northern California first team, All-Central Coast Section first team and All-WCAL first team selection. During his freshman year in 2004-05, Gordon posted 9.5 points per game, 9.2 rebound per game, 1.0 assists per game, 3.0 steals per game and 4.5 blocks per game and earned CIF Central Coast Section Freshman of the Year honors, All-WCAL first-team selection and All-CCS second-team honoree.
at UCLA
, choosing the Bruins over North Carolina
, Duke
, Arizona
, Washington and California. Gordon was a highly touted recruit, and was reported as a four-star recruit—ranked 15th among all power forwards—by both Scout.com and by Rivals.com. He was also scored a 96 (out of 100) recruit by ESPN, who remarked that Gordon "should see some time coming off the bench" in their November 2007 official scouting report.
against VCU with a concussion. He picked up his first career double-double with season-highs of 14 points and 11 rebounds in a home win over Wyoming. Gordon averaged 3.6 points per game in an average of 10.9 minutes off the bench while finishing third on the team in offensive rebounds with 45, second in dunks with 19 and third in blocks with 15. He also was the most efficient Bruin that season as he made a team-high 56.5% of his shots (52-for-92) throughout the year.
was the deciding factor in Gordon's decision to transfer—especially in light of Howland's decision to suspend Gordon from practice for two days due to Gordon's predilection to be "opinionated and emotional" and to "flash... his temper during games"--it was mostly reported that "it's what's best for all parties" as Gordon did not fit in Howland's preferred style of play.
, Gordon quickly enrolled at the University of New Mexico
, choosing the Lobos over Notre Dame
, San Diego State
and UNLV
. Gordon noted that "[t]he type of basketball New Mexico plays, on both offense and defense, is the kind of style I excel in, and coach [Steve] Alford
is a great coach with a great reputation". While waiting to become eligible on December 19, 2010, Gordon was noted as leading a group of "impact transfers" who made the Lobos the "biggest, most athletic team" in Alford's tenure. While Gordon did have to sit out the first nine games of New Mexico's 2010-11 campaign due to NCAA transfer rules, he eventually began playing, and started the last 19 the Lobos played, notching 13.0 points per game to go along with 10.5 rebounds per game. He led the Lobos in rebounding 21 games and scored in double digits 22 times (including a streak of 12 from January 12 to February 23). Gordon posted a number of outstanding performances, including: 23 points and 13 rebounds in a loss to #6 San Diego State; 16 points and 18 boards in a 68-57 win over Wyoming; and 17 points and 23 rebounds (including 9 offensive) in a loss to Utah. Gordon was twice named Mountain West Conference Player of the Week: first, he was named co-player on January 31 after 27 points and 23 rebounds in wins over TCU and No. 9 BYU and second after 28 points and 26 boards following victories at No. 3 BYU and against Air Force On March 7, 2011, Gordon was selected as the Mountain West Conference Newcomer of the Year as well as being named Second-Team All-Mountain West.
. On November 4, Gordon was named one of thirty finalists for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award
, and honor given to a Division I senior who displays excellence in the areas of community, classroom, character and competition. On October 12, Gordon was selected to both the 2011-12 Mountain West Preseason All-Conference Team and as the Preseason Player of the Year. As the regular season started to roll around, another pair of preseason accolades were given to Gordon: Rivals.com ranked him as the tenth best power forward in the nation (and the highest power forward ranked from a mid-major conference), and Ballin' is a Habit named Gordon as the ninth best center in the nation.
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, Gordon began his college career at UCLA
UCLA Bruins men's basketball
The UCLA Bruins men's basketball program, established in 1920, owns a record 11 Division I NCAA championships. UCLA teams coached by John Wooden won 10 national titles in 12 seasons from 1964 to 1975, including 7 straight from 1967 to 1973. UCLA went undefeated a record 4 times, in 1964, 1967,...
, yet transferred during his sophomore year to the University of New Mexico. Since his transfer, Gordon has garnered a number of accolades for his play as the starting center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
for the Lobos, giving New Mexico a dominating inside presence that "few players that can compete with... in the MWC".
High school
Gordon attended Archbishop Mitty High SchoolArchbishop Mitty High School
Archbishop Mitty High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school located in San Jose, California, USA. The school is named for the late Archbishop John Joseph Mitty, the fourth Archbishop of San Francisco. It was the first diocesan Catholic high school in the Santa Clara Valley...
in San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
as a four-year varsity letterwinner and three-time All-West Catholic Athletic League first team selection who led the Monarchs to three West Catholic Athletic League
West Catholic Athletic League
The West Catholic Athletic League or WCAL is a highly competitive high school athletic conference in the Central Coast Section of the California Interscholastic Federation. The boys division is made up of seven private Catholic schools and one Christian school in the Western and Southern portions...
championships. During his senior year, Gordon notched 17.5 points per game and 10.5 rebounds per game in eleven games before being sidelined by an ankle injury. However, that injury had minimal impact on his season and the recognition accrued therein as he was not only invited to play in the 2008 Jordan Brand Classic, but was also named a 2008 member of Long Beach Press-Telegram's Best in the West first team as well as the 2007-08 Les Schwab Invitational most valuable player. In his junior campaign, Gordon registered 15.1 points per game, 10.4 rebound per game, 2.4 assists per game, 2.3 steals per game and 4.1 blocks per game, as he shot 63.8% from the floor, 50.0% from three-point range and 70.2% from the line and led 26-9 Archbishop Mitty to number 9 in USA Today's polls for the West Regional. Again, Gordon racked up honors, being named both 2007 San Jose Mercury News Player of the Year as well as the 2007 Cal-Hi Sports Athlete of the Year. In addition, Gordon was also named second-team EA Sports 2007 All-American, and a 2007 All-California State first-team selection. As a sophomore in 2005-06, Gordon averaged 14.7 points per game, 10.1 rebound per game, 1.7 assists per game, 2.4 steals per game and 3.9 blocks per game as he was named the 2006 Cal State Sophomore Player of the Year, All-California Interscholastic Federation third team, All-Northern California first team, All-Central Coast Section first team and All-WCAL first team selection. During his freshman year in 2004-05, Gordon posted 9.5 points per game, 9.2 rebound per game, 1.0 assists per game, 3.0 steals per game and 4.5 blocks per game and earned CIF Central Coast Section Freshman of the Year honors, All-WCAL first-team selection and All-CCS second-team honoree.
UCLA
On May 7, 2007, Drew Gordon committed to play for Ben HowlandBen Howland
Ben Howland is an American college head coach of men's basketball.He has been the head coach of the University of California, Los Angeles since 2003, and in 2008 signed an extension of his contract to run through 2015. Aggressive man-to-man defense is the trademark of Ben Howland-coached...
at UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
, choosing the Bruins over North Carolina
North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball
The North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is considered one of the most successful programs in NCAA history...
, Duke
Duke Blue Devils men's basketball
The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team is the college basketball program representing Duke University in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I...
, Arizona
Arizona Wildcats men's basketball
The Arizona Wildcats basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The team competes in the Pacific-12 Conference of NCAA Division I. They are currently coached by Sean Miller.Arizona has a long and rich...
, Washington and California. Gordon was a highly touted recruit, and was reported as a four-star recruit—ranked 15th among all power forwards—by both Scout.com and by Rivals.com. He was also scored a 96 (out of 100) recruit by ESPN, who remarked that Gordon "should see some time coming off the bench" in their November 2007 official scouting report.
Freshman Year, 2008-2009
Gordon played in 34 of 35 games, only missing the Bruins' first round game in the NCAA Tournament2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The first and second round games were played at the following sites:First and Second Rounds: Thursday and Saturday, March 19 and 21, 2009-Qualifying teams:-Brackets:Results to date * – Denotes overtime periodAll times in U.S. EDT....
against VCU with a concussion. He picked up his first career double-double with season-highs of 14 points and 11 rebounds in a home win over Wyoming. Gordon averaged 3.6 points per game in an average of 10.9 minutes off the bench while finishing third on the team in offensive rebounds with 45, second in dunks with 19 and third in blocks with 15. He also was the most efficient Bruin that season as he made a team-high 56.5% of his shots (52-for-92) throughout the year.
| Games Played | Games Started | Minutes/Game | Points/Game | Rebounds/Game | Assists/Game | Blocks/Game | Field Goal Percentage | Free Throw Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 34 | 10.9 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 56.5% | 50.0% |
Sophomore Year, 2009-2010
Continuing from his relatively successful freshman season, Gordon played in and started six games for the Bruins, averaging 11.2 points per game and 5.3 rebounds per game. He was able to post 19 points and six rebounds in 21 minutes against Cal State Bakersfield in a 75-64 UCLA victory and 18 points and 9 boards in a 71-52 victory over Pepperdine. However, in the midst of a five game losing streak, Gordon left UCLA's basketball team to transfer, in what was stated to be a "mutual parting". While some news sources speculated Gordon's "increasingly tense" relationship with Bruins' head coach Ben HowlandBen Howland
Ben Howland is an American college head coach of men's basketball.He has been the head coach of the University of California, Los Angeles since 2003, and in 2008 signed an extension of his contract to run through 2015. Aggressive man-to-man defense is the trademark of Ben Howland-coached...
was the deciding factor in Gordon's decision to transfer—especially in light of Howland's decision to suspend Gordon from practice for two days due to Gordon's predilection to be "opinionated and emotional" and to "flash... his temper during games"--it was mostly reported that "it's what's best for all parties" as Gordon did not fit in Howland's preferred style of play.
| Games Played | Games Started | Minutes/Game | Points/Game | Rebounds/Game | Assists/Game | Blocks/Game | Field Goal Percentage | Free Throw Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 6 | 24.5 | 11.2 | 5.3 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 56.9% | 64.3% |
Junior Year, 2010-2011
After parting ways with UCLAUCLA Bruins men's basketball
The UCLA Bruins men's basketball program, established in 1920, owns a record 11 Division I NCAA championships. UCLA teams coached by John Wooden won 10 national titles in 12 seasons from 1964 to 1975, including 7 straight from 1967 to 1973. UCLA went undefeated a record 4 times, in 1964, 1967,...
, Gordon quickly enrolled at the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
, choosing the Lobos over Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States. The program competes in the Big East Conference of NCAA Division I. The school holds two national championships in...
, San Diego State
San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball
The San Diego State Aztecs basketball team is the basketball team that represent San Diego State University Aztecs in San Diego, California. The school's team currently competes in the Mountain West Conference, and play their home games in Viejas Arena...
and UNLV
UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball
The UNLV Runnin' Rebels are a NCAA Division I men's basketball team who play at the Thomas & Mack Center in Paradise, Nevada. Their most recent appearance in the NCAA Tournament was in 2011 when they received an at–large bid to the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, earning an 8-seed in...
. Gordon noted that "[t]he type of basketball New Mexico plays, on both offense and defense, is the kind of style I excel in, and coach [Steve] Alford
Steve Alford
Stephen Todd Alford is a retired American basketball player and the current head coach of the University of New Mexico Lobos men's basketball team...
is a great coach with a great reputation". While waiting to become eligible on December 19, 2010, Gordon was noted as leading a group of "impact transfers" who made the Lobos the "biggest, most athletic team" in Alford's tenure. While Gordon did have to sit out the first nine games of New Mexico's 2010-11 campaign due to NCAA transfer rules, he eventually began playing, and started the last 19 the Lobos played, notching 13.0 points per game to go along with 10.5 rebounds per game. He led the Lobos in rebounding 21 games and scored in double digits 22 times (including a streak of 12 from January 12 to February 23). Gordon posted a number of outstanding performances, including: 23 points and 13 rebounds in a loss to #6 San Diego State; 16 points and 18 boards in a 68-57 win over Wyoming; and 17 points and 23 rebounds (including 9 offensive) in a loss to Utah. Gordon was twice named Mountain West Conference Player of the Week: first, he was named co-player on January 31 after 27 points and 23 rebounds in wins over TCU and No. 9 BYU and second after 28 points and 26 boards following victories at No. 3 BYU and against Air Force On March 7, 2011, Gordon was selected as the Mountain West Conference Newcomer of the Year as well as being named Second-Team All-Mountain West.
| Games Played | Games Started | Minutes/Game | Points/Game | Rebounds/Game | Assists/Game | Blocks/Game | Field Goal Percentage | Free Throw Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | 19 | 28.0 | 13.0 | 10.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 52.7% | 67.8% |
Senior Year, 2011-2012
Gordon is considered to be a potential NBA draft pick, and was even ranked the 26th best NBA prospect by DraftExpress.com, projecting him to be selected in the late first round. On October 3, Gordon was named to the Wooden Preseason Top 50, the only player from the Mountain West. Bleacher Report expanded on this selection and tabbed Gordon to be a dark horse candidate for national player of the yearNaismith College Player of the Year
The Naismith College Player of the Year is an annual basketball award given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to the top men's and women's collegiate basketball players. It is named in honor of the inventor of basketball , Dr. James Naismith....
. On November 4, Gordon was named one of thirty finalists for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award
Lowe's Senior CLASS Award
The Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award is an annual college athletic award in the NCAA Division I. Qualified competitors must be seniors who have remained within their NCAA Division I college for a four-year commitment and achieved excellence in one of nine sports.....
, and honor given to a Division I senior who displays excellence in the areas of community, classroom, character and competition. On October 12, Gordon was selected to both the 2011-12 Mountain West Preseason All-Conference Team and as the Preseason Player of the Year. As the regular season started to roll around, another pair of preseason accolades were given to Gordon: Rivals.com ranked him as the tenth best power forward in the nation (and the highest power forward ranked from a mid-major conference), and Ballin' is a Habit named Gordon as the ninth best center in the nation.