Mike Anderson’s entire recruiting class is heading elsewhere now.
Four-star forward Brandon Gardner, the last member of the three-man class, asked to be released from the National Letter of Intent a day after meeting with new St. John’s coach Rick Pitino, his mother Tameka Gordon said in the post. Told.
Gardner, who attended Christ the King High School in Queens last year, remained committed to St. John’s after Anderson’s dismissal.
But after meeting with a Hall of Fame coach, the talented 6-foot-8 athlete wanted to explore other options.
in a statement on social mediaGardner said he was still open to rehiring him at St. John’s, but the school has no plans to rehir him, sources said.
Multiple sources say the school had expressed interest in Gardner through a third party for quite some time, as Anderson’s job security was questioned and continued after Pitino’s hiring.
These schools were believed to offer a certain amount of money that could be paid through names, images, and likenesses.
Gordon denied it.
“I want to stop the noise before it starts. NIL — never more than what my son is entitled to,” she told The Post. “Brandon Gardner was patient. He listened. He met with the coaching staff and respected everyone’s vision during this process.My son is the captain of his ship.
“It’s unfair to scrutinize my son for the NIL. My son wants to play in a school where he feels he can play, grow and build a good IQ. Coach Pitino builds his own team It doesn’t matter if he wanted my son, he’s building a team his way.For my son, it’s important to rely on instinct and prayer/signing.That’s about NIL. If so, Brandon wouldn’t have committed to St. John’s.
Gardner and his mother moved to Queens last year to finish high school.
In the fall, he initially said he had no intention of signing for the NLI, but reversed course and ended up signing.
Now he is free to look at other schools.
