05/10/2024

Young Runs

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Eric Gordon – Indiana University (IU) Hoosiers Alum and Basketball Player For Los Angeles Clippers

Eric Gordon – Indiana University (IU) Hoosiers Alum and Basketball Player For Los Angeles Clippers

Eric Gordon is a standout basketball player who honed his game while playing a season with the Indiana University Hoosiers before moving on to contribute with the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA.

Born on Christmas Day in 1988, the newborn by the name of Eric Gordon, Jr. is a native of Indianapolis who was destined to obtain great basketball fame in the area of his upbringing. After excelling as a high school basketball player at North Central High School in Indianapolis the 6’3″ guard opted to take his game to Indiana University (IU) in Bloomington, IN. Before committing to IU Gordon who was coming off of an exceptional high school season in which he averaged 29 points per game while shooting 57% from the field was the subject an intense recruiting battle between the IU and the University of Illinois.

The convoluted recruiting issues between the University of Illinois and Indiana University stem from Eric Gordon recanting an early verbal commitment he made to Illinois in November of 2005 (early in his junior year of high school). About one year later in November or 2006 Eric Gordon officially signed a letter of intent to play basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers. The commitment change was predominately spurred by coaching staff changed at Indiana University which made the school a more appealing option for Gordon and his family. While discussions were had about the ethics behind recruiting a player who had previously verbally committed elsewhere oral commitments are not regulated by the NCAA and therefore no official rules were broken.

Eric Gordon made the most of his one transitional year of college basketball between playing in high school and playing professionally. During his freshmen season at Indiana he averaged more than 20 points a game which was strong enough to lead the Big Ten Conference in scoring. Before tapering off later in the season the Hoosiers were off to their best start in years when they opened the 2007-2008 season with 17 wins and 1 loss. An injured wrist effected the quality of play Gordon was able to produce during the second half of the season and ultimately contributed to a dismal performance in the first round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament where the Indiana Hoosiers were eliminated in the first round of play by the University of Arkansas Razorbacks.

Post season accolades received by Eric Gordon included First Team Big Team Conference, Big Ten Freshmen of the Year, and Third Team All-American honors. On June 26, 2008 the LA Clippers selected Eric Gordon out of Indiana University with the number seven overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.