Jason Gardner, a former standout player at the University of Arizona, will be inducted into the Pac-12 Men's Basketball Hall of Honor this spring
 
Jason Gardner, a former standout player at the University of Arizona, will be inducted into the Pac-12 Men's Basketball Hall of Honor this spring
 
 
Jason Gardner To Be Inducted Into Pac-12 Hall Of Honor

Loyola men's basketball assistant earned 2003 Naismith Player of the Year accolades

Jan. 31, 2013

CHICAGO - Jason Gardner, assistant men's basketball coach at Loyola University Chicago, will be inducted into the Pac-12 Men's Basketball Hall of Honor later this spring, it was announced today. A standout basketball player at the University of Arizona from 1999-2003, Gardner helped the Wildcats to the 2001 NCAA National Championship game, and earned All-America honors on 12 occasions.

Gardner will be inducted into the Pac-12 Hall of Honor, along with notable former athletes such as Shareef Abdur-Rahim (California), Keith Van Horn (Utah), and current Chicago Bulls guard Nate Robinson (Washington), on March 16 at the Pac-12 Men's Basketball Tournament in Las Vegas, Nev.

"This is a phenomenal honor for a great family man. I didn't know Jason as a player, but I remember him and was always impressed with how hard he played," Loyola head coach Porter Moser said. "He played with toughness and passion and had a high basketball IQ. Jason was a winner and that is exemplified by his state title as a high school player and a NCAA Runner-Up finish. Now that I have gotten a chance to know him as a member of our staff at Loyola, Jason is a high-character, humble human being. He has that `it' factor where he has all of the talent and the intangibles to be successful. As a player, Jason brings a tremendous amount of credibility because he has been where all of our players want to go. Earning a spot in a school's hall of fame is impressive and difficult enough, but when you think about being inducted into a BCS conference's hall of fame, you realize that you truly are in select company."

During his illustrious career at Arizona where he played for legendary coach Lute Olson, Gardner was an All-American and led the Wildcats to a NCAA Runner-Up finish in 2001. As a junior in 2001-02, the guard averaged 20.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.6 steals per game as Arizona posted a 24-10 record. The highest-scoring guard in Arizona history with 1,984 points, the Indianapolis native was named the 2003 Frances Pomeroy Naismith Player of the Year and was a John R. Wooden All-American.

Gardner began his prolific collegiate career with a bang, earning United States Basketball Writers Association National Freshman of the Year honors in 2000, while also becoming the first Arizona freshman to be named All-Pac-12 First Team. At the time of his graduation, he was one of only four players in Pac-12 history to amass over 1,500 points, 500 assists, and 200 steals.

He was also highly regarded high school player at North Central High School in Indianapolis and earned the state's prestigious Mr. Basketball Award in 1999. As a senior, he helped North Central win the state championship and was also named both a McDonald's and Parade All-American.

Gardner is in his second season as an assistant coach at Loyola following a long professional playing career in Germany.