Kiwi Gardner

Kiwi Gardner
No. 17 – Santa Cruz Warriors
Position Point guard
League NBA Development League
Personal information
Born April 7, 1993
Manteca, California
Nationality American
Listed height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Listed weight 155 lb (70 kg)
Career information
High school Manteca (Manteca, California)
Westwind Prep (Phoenix, Arizona)
College Midland College (2012–2013)
NBA draft 2013 / Undrafted
Pro career 2013–present
Career history
2013–present Santa Cruz Warriors (D-League)
Career highlights and awards

Keyondrei "Kiwi" Gardner (born April 7, 1993) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA Development League. He played college basketball for Midland College. He became an Internet sensation via YouTube in 2011.[1][2]

High school career

From 2007 to 2010, Garner attended Manteca High School in Manteca, California. As a sophomore in 2008–09, he averaged 19.8 points, 6.0 assists, 2.1 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game as he helped the Buffaloes finish with a 24-4 record. As a junior in 2009–10, he averaged 24 points, 3.8 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 3.5 steals as he helped the Buffaloes finish a 23-6 record.[3]

In 2010, Gardner transferred to Westwind Preparatory Academy in Phoenix, Arizona. He did not meet the eligibility requirements of the Arizona Interscholastic Association because of transferring in his senior year, so he did not play on WPA's State Championship High School team that year. Instead, he played on WPA's prep team. Gardner was chosen to participate in the NCAA's High School Slam Dunk contest during the Final Four Tournament, where the crowd watched the same showmanship that has led to hundreds of thousands of hits on his YouTube highlight videos.[4] In 2010–11, he averaged 23.7 points, seven assists, four steals and four rebounds per game, while playing for Head Coach Gary Trousdale and leading Westwind to a 30-2 season and a state title.[3]

College career

On May 13, 2011, Gardner signed a national letter of intent with Providence College.[3] However, he did not make an appearance for the Friars after he never gained eligibility to play.[5]

In 2012, Gardner left Providence and moved to Midland College of the NJCAA. In 2012–13, he played 9 games for Midland in February 2013, averaging 9.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.[6]

In April 2013, Gardner declared for the NBA draft.[7]

Professional career

Gardner went undrafted in the 2013 NBA draft. On November 1, 2013, he was selected in the 7th round of the 2013 NBA D-League draft by the Santa Cruz Warriors.[8][9] In 2013–14, he played 35 games while averaging 6.8 points, 1.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game.[10]

In July 2014, Gardner joined the Golden State Warriors for the 2014 NBA Summer League.[11] On November 3, 2014, Gardner was reacquired by the Santa Cruz Warriors.[12] On April 26, 2015, he won the D-League championship with the Warriors.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Kiwi Gardner, The Youtube Sensation... Official Senior Season Mixtape". YouTube.com. April 15, 2011. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  2. ↑ Gardner, Kiwi (December 31, 2013). Kiwi Gardner Gets A Break, Told To 'Go At The Rim'. Interview with David Greene. NPR. Morning Edition. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Kiwi Gardner Signs A NLI To Attend PC". Friars.com. May 13, 2011. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Gardner to be featured in dunk contest". MantecaBulletin.com. March 17, 2011. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  5. ↑ Simmons, Rusty (October 19, 2013). "Oakland's Gardner makes D-League tryout circuit". SFGate.com. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Kiwi Gardner – NJCAA Stats". NJCAA.org. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Eighteen early-entry candidates withdraw from 2013 Draft". NBA.com. June 18, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  8. ↑ "2013 NBA Development League Draft". NBA.com. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Santa Cruz Warriors Announce Training Camp Roster". NBA.com. November 6, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Kiwi Gardner D-League Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Warriors Announce 2014 Summer League Roster & T.V. Schedule". NBA.com. July 3, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Santa Cruz Warriors Announce 2014 Training Camp Roster". NBA.com. November 3, 2014. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Title Wave: Santa Cruz Wins NBA D-League Championship". NBA.com. April 26, 2015. Retrieved April 26, 2015.

External links