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FEBRUARY 2022 17 BY QUINN HULL T railing Pittsburgh by a point, without possession and just 9.6 seconds remaining in the ACC opener, Vir- ginia seemed to have slim hopes of pulling out a win. But in true Cavaliers fashion, smother- ing full-court defense forced the Panthers into a five-second violation to give Virginia life. A three-point try ricocheted high off the rim only to be collected by Jayden Gardner. His step-back, baseline jumper took a high bounce off the back of the rim. With the entire crowd looking on in desperation, it de- flected off the backboard and took two more bounces before it fell through and sent John Paul Jones Arena into a frenzy. If it wasn't already clear before his last- second heroics, it was clear as day after the team's 57-56 comeback victory on Dec. 3. Gardner had arrived at Virginia. For the first three years of his collegiate career, Gardner suited up for East Carolina in Greenville, N.C. In his first season with the Pirates, he was the only player on the team to start all 31 games and was unanimously selected to the American Athletic Confer- ence's All-Freshman team after amassing five AAC Freshman of the Week awards. After an impressive debut season, Gardner wasn't content to sit back. Instead, he improved as his career progressed. He continued to turn heads in two more seasons with the Pirates, leading the AAC in scoring with 19.7 points per game in his second-year campaign. That same season, the forward was recognized as the North Carolina Player of the Year by The Athletic. At the end of a third-year season in which he averaged 18.3 points and grabbed 8.3 rebounds per game, Gardner was looking at the possibility of playing at a higher level. He would not need to look far for the opportunity. Less than 300 miles north was a team com- peting at the highest level that would prove to be a great fit for Gardner. Since the arrival of head coach Tony Ben- nett in 2009, Virginia's men's basketball program has enjoyed great success based on a clear identity. It takes a specific type of player to embrace the way the Cavaliers approach the game, but those who do tend to thrive. Under Bennett, Virginia emphasizes tak- ing good shots, sharing and taking care of the basketball, rebounding and, above all, playing defense. That identity has led the Cavaliers to a decade of success and helped them win their first national championship in 2018-19. The Hoos were tested and pushed to their limits, especially in their final three games of the championship run, but they never wavered in their team identity. Among those watching when Virginia etched its place in history was Gardner. As a first-year at East Carolina, he already aspired to play at the highest level. In March and April 2019, Gardner watched and admired the way the Cavaliers competed through a championship run that pushed them to their limits but ended with the team cutting down the nets in Minnesota. "It was a pretty back-and-forth game. They had just survived the Purdue game, and a whole bunch of heavyweight games," Gardner said. "They were resilient and they were tough. … I always wanted to play at that level and against those types of opponents. "It's the stuff you dream about growing up." Gardner was ready to make the jump, and in April 2021 an immediate opportunity presented itself. The NCAA Division I board of directors met to ratify legislation that would allow baseball, football, ice hockey, and men's and women's basketball athletes to transfer one time and play the following season. In the past, athletes who competed in those five sports would be required to spend one season on the sideline before stepping into competition. This legislation played a crucial role in paving the way for Gardner to take his shot at the next level. "I think it is big for guys that want to get out and explore opportunities and play right away," he said. "You get one chance at it, and then the second time you do it you have to wait. "I think it's fine that everyone has a chance to find out if they can play at a higher level and want to experience new things, and I think it is working out well for a lot of guys." Soon after entering the transfer portal, Gardner found himself communicating with the coaching staff at Virginia. It didn't take him long to realize that Charlottesville was where he belonged. Gardner's game on the court matched up well with what the Cava- liers try to accomplish on a yearly basis, and he could tell that the fit was right not only from watching the team compete, but through conversations with the coaching staff. "The opportunity to come here and play right away at an ACC school that was close to home [was appealing]," Gardner said. "And we had a lot of mutual interests in the conversations with [Tony Bennett], Coach Kyle [Getter], and all the staff that con- tacted me, which was really good." Gardner had his shot. He was now a part of a program that has checked all the boxes in the past decade. The Cavaliers have claimed a share of the ACC regular-season title in five of the past eight seasons. They have been crowned ACC Tournament cham- pions twice and have captured the pro- gram's first NCAA title. The only question left to be answered was whether he could compete at the next level. The answer was an emphatic yes. His debut in Charlottesville was strikingly similar to his first game at East Carolina when he put up 18 points against Charlotte. In his first game as a Wahoo, Gardner once again posted 18 points. This time, however, he pitched in 10 rebounds on his way to completing a double-double. He re- peated the feat two more times in the next five games before his heroic performance and game-winning shot to down Pittsburgh. "I was just trying to get off a shot and I was on the ground, so I couldn't really tell if I made it or not," Gardner said, recalling the final moments of the game against the Pan- thers. "I saw the bounces, and it went in and all the excitement just rushed to me. "It was a great moment to share with my teammates, and being at home with the crowd, it was just a great day." Gardner was leading the Cavaliers in scoring (14.0 points per game) and rebounding (7.0 boards an out- ing) through 18 contests this season. (Photo by Matt Riley/courtesy UVA) PERFECT FIT Transfer Forward Jayden Gardner Has Shined As A Cavalier