SF Pro AM- Star

by dhod on Jun 27, 2011 11:55 AM PDT

Every year during the summer a highly competitive basketball pro-am league comes to San Francisco. Games are filled with exciting players that play in college, overseas, or even the NBA. The past couple of years this league has had Matt Barnes, Jeremy Lin, Landry Fields, Jason Kapono, Cardell "Ballaholic" Butler and many more really talented players that could find a spot on many NBA rosters. However this year a new player is drawing attention. He is not in the NBA though. In fact, he does not play pro ball anywhere. He actually has not even played a college game yet. That is right he is still in high school, but is taking over the league by storm. The most intriguing fact is that he is only 5'7 and that is being generours. He is youtube sensation and bay area native Kiwi Gardner. Kiwi recently singed a letter of intent to takes his talents to the Big East and play at Providence next year. Last summer he was playing AAU ball for the Oakland Soldiers which were the best AAU team in the NATION and won the fab 48 tournament in Las Vegas. This year he is playing with the big boys preparing for his college career. His next game is this thursday at 8 PM at Kezar Pavillion. I suggest everyone to go see this dred-shaking fearless kid play while you can. Admission is free of course and also on his roster are Matt Barnes (when in town), Jason Kapono (when in town), and reigning MVP Cardell Butler. This year Kiwi caught everyone's eye his first game as he dunked from outside of the key, the next game to top it he scored 51 points. I wonder whats to come in game 3?

Here is more information on the pro am in case you want to check it out.

http://www.sanfranciscoproam.com/index.htm

Now check out Kiwi in a couple of videos so you can see what to expect

Kiwi Gardner GOES CRAZY & Scores 51 Points in Pro-Am Game!!! (via Yayareasfinest2006)

This some video of the Oakland Soldiers team he was on last year

The BEST AAU Team in the Country... Oakland Soldiers DESTROY Vegas (via Yayareasfinest2006)

Next Game

Where: Kezar Pavillion

When: Thursday, 6/30, 8PM

Admission: FREE

This FanPost is a submission from a member of the mighty Golden State of Mind community. While we're all here to throw up that W, these words do not necessarily reflect the views of the GSoM Crew. Still, chances are the preceding post is Unstoppable Baby!

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Comments

That guy looks like a natural SF to me.

by brutusbrutus on Jun 27, 2011 2:42 PM PDT reply actions

Where is the gym located?

by macdreboi on Jun 27, 2011 2:42 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

Kezar pavillion

is located by kezar stadium where the niners use to play and its around the southeastern corner of golden gate park

by dhod on Jun 27, 2011 3:19 PM PDT reply actions

He played for Manteca HS out this way

I talked to a few schools A.D.‘s and coaches out here and from what they said he’s an extremely talented kid and is a knucklehead at times. I don’t know the kid but I can honestly say at his age I was a bit of a knucklehead as well, and I turned out okay.

"That was very funny about the old man basketball skills. One is lucky to escape injury when playing against those crafty, crusty sumbitches. And it’s just demoralizing when they demonstrate yet again how to use the backboard from range." - Charlie Custer

by SmittytheCutman on Jun 27, 2011 3:29 PM PDT reply actions

I actually went to a basketball camp once with the tourney mvp from the second video, jabari brown. From what I can remember, the guy had a major attitude problem. He refused to participate in drills/competitions numerous times, and got pissed whenever people on his team messed up even a little

by misterho on Jun 27, 2011 5:11 PM PDT reply actions

Jabari brown is one of my good friends. I grew up with him and played with him for years. He is one of the hardest working players i know and also very humble at the same time. He does not have an attitude problem at all.

by dhod on Jun 27, 2011 7:17 PM PDT up reply actions

Hmm

if you know him then I must be mistaken. The camp I went to was PGC (Point Guard College) and it was at CalPoly a couple years ago. If he went there then it was probably him. Sorry if I’m wrong, but I remember a very athletically gifted player who’s name was very similar to Jabari and looked exactly like the guy in the video.

by misterho on Jun 27, 2011 9:44 PM PDT up reply actions

I mean it could be him

But i’ve known him since i was 7 and he was 5. Played on the same teams for years. Always the hardest worker even though he was the youngest and never ever gave attitude. He did hate losing though, and would not back down from anyone if he was disrespected but very humble.

by dhod on Jun 28, 2011 12:04 PM PDT up reply actions

JB is your good buddy?

Honestly, what kind of shady deal did Oregon pull to get his commitment? We all know they are scummy, so how much money did they pay?

He should be at Cal or Stanfurd, but Monty pulled away. I suspect because JB wanted CASH.

6 1st round draft picks, 2 Super Bowl Champions and counting

by Another Successful Tedford QB on Jun 28, 2011 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions

Honestly

For a while it was Arizona and Wake Forest at the top, like his sophomore and early junior years. Then Georgia Tech, Washington, Arizona State, Kansas, and Oregon caught up. When he said all those schools caught up that they were pretty even. He had offers from a lot of other places but he said those were his top, he didnt like Cal.

by dhod on Jun 28, 2011 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions

So did he get paid to go to Oregon? That’s the big rumor going around.

And why did he not like Cal?

6 1st round draft picks, 2 Super Bowl Champions and counting

by Another Successful Tedford QB on Jun 28, 2011 2:47 PM PDT up reply actions

I honestly dont know for sure

but, i am very close with his mom, dad, and brother and they are very supportive. He has a great family background and they are not poor by any means. He has no reason to take money and he is a smart kid as well.

by dhod on Jun 28, 2011 9:15 PM PDT up reply actions

Oh word, thanks for the info. I always dreamed about him coming to Cal, but he never liked us so I guess we’ll have to beat him on Oregon.

I like to hear about the strong family stuff. Too many of these shady college deals go down because of the parents, not the actual athlete.

6 1st round draft picks, 2 Super Bowl Champions and counting

by Another Successful Tedford QB on Jun 29, 2011 9:34 AM PDT up reply actions

Lots of And 1 moves...perfect for summer Pro-Am!

There’s a lot of hot doggin out there and we’ve seen players who flourish in these mediocre aro-am leagues but don’t do diddly in the NBA. Not sayin this dude don’t got game, but there’s a reason he’s in in AAU and not in college or the Pro’s.
His moves are very AI-ish…very entertaining.

We Believe!!!

by crossphaded on Jun 27, 2011 5:49 PM PDT reply actions

Actually he had numerous offers from power house colleges

Was the starting point guard for the best AAU team, which if you ever played showcases the top high school talents in the nation, and is at prep school in Arizona right now. Since when did having unbelievable ball handling skills and very quick feet make you not a good ball player?

by dhod on Jun 27, 2011 7:20 PM PDT up reply actions

Why didnt he go to college then?

KOBE BRYANT IS DA GREA-TEST PLAYER IN DA HIS-TORY OF DA NBA- Warriors Head Coach Mark Jackson
Hand Down Man Down

by GovernorStephCurry on Jun 27, 2011 7:39 PM PDT up reply actions

He's about to

by SmittytheCutman on Jun 27, 2011 7:58 PM PDT up reply actions

Commited to Providence University

by SmittytheCutman on Jun 27, 2011 8:02 PM PDT reply actions

But why'd he go to prep school first?

KOBE BRYANT IS DA GREA-TEST PLAYER IN DA HIS-TORY OF DA NBA- Warriors Head Coach Mark Jackson
Hand Down Man Down

by GovernorStephCurry on Jun 27, 2011 8:21 PM PDT up reply actions

Probably to get recruited

Hard to get on radar of D1 schools if you’re 5ft7 and playing for a school that never produces D1 players

It’s not uncommon for players to do it.

by tafkasam on Jun 27, 2011 8:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, local bay area talent Brandon Ashley is transferring to Findlay Prep for his senior year because they’re highly competitive and play the best schools in the nation. Lots of attention.

by DubsFan408 on Jun 27, 2011 8:55 PM PDT up reply actions

BOD?

Brian Shaw went there, and he got major offers didn’t he?

KOBE BRYANT IS DA GREA-TEST PLAYER IN DA HIS-TORY OF DA NBA- Warriors Head Coach Mark Jackson
Hand Down Man Down

by GovernorStephCurry on Jun 27, 2011 10:35 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah

I’m an odowd alum…he had offers everywhere while at odowd, but he wants to get better competition and coaching to prepare himself to college.

by dhod on Jun 27, 2011 10:52 PM PDT up reply actions

I don’t go to BOD, but I’m sure he does have major offers since he’s quite highly ranked as a player. Findlay Prep is pretty much a school that produces a lot college/pro prospects (Tristan Thompson, Cory Joseph, Avery Bradley, etc). Also, Nick Johnson went to Findlay and Jabari Brown did partially. But yeah, I’m getting Brandon Ashley is transferring because he wants to be ready for college and also have a chance to win a national title.

by DubsFan408 on Jun 27, 2011 11:07 PM PDT up reply actions