Archbishop Mitty senior basketball standout Aaron Gordon has chosen Arizona.
“I hope Tucson is celebrating because I’m about to be an Arizona Wildcat,” Gordon said to those assembled today at the McDonald’s All-American Game Media Day, according to NBCSports.
The McDonald’s Game is Wednesday night and Gordon warmed up for it by finishing second in the dunk contest on Monday.
His final four had been whittled to Arizona, Oregon, Washington and Kentucky.
Each school had its pluses. Arizona is a ready-made team with Gordon perhaps the only missing piece of the puzzle. Oregon is Nike country with Nike’s Phil Knight and alumnus, which would no doubt by attractive to a future NBA star. Washington is coached by Lorenzo Romar, who has family ties to the Gordons. Kentucky is, well, Kentucky, but the Wildcats were rated as a long shot, being so far away from Gordon’s home.
Oregon made a big pitch for Gordon, even holding its first practice for the NCAA Tournament in San Jose, at the Mitty gym. Its attempts were ultimately futile, though.
In Arizona, Gordon should step nicely into a line-up that will also include Nick Johnson, Duquesne transfer T.J. McConnell, highly touted freshman Rondae Jefferson and knockdown shooter Elliott Pitts.
The 6-foot-8 Gordon averaged 21.5 points, 16.5 rebounds, 3.5 blocks and 3.7 assists per game as a senior and, during his Mitty career, led the Monarchs to four consecutive section titles, three consecutive NorCal titles and three consecutive state title games (winning two of them).
Said Mitty coach Tim Kennedy of Gordon in the days leading up to last month’s state title game: “He just has so much skill that you forget the fact that he’s the ultimate competitor,” Kennedy said. “He just finds a way to help us win. He rebounds and guards the other team’s best player every game. He just wants to win so badly.”
Gordon ranks high on the list of top basketball players from the Central Coast that includes Kurt Rambis (Cupertino), Dennis Awtrey (Blackford), Charles Johnson (Sequoia), Rich Kelley (Woodside), Mike Mitchell (Capuchino), Mark McNamara (Del Mar), Kevin Restani (Riordan), Nick Vanos (Hillsdale), Jim Loscutoff (Palo Alto) and Kenny Sears (Watsonville).
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John Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@Prep2Prep.com.
