TexasHoops.com

in Houston Yates has never been more exciting.

Gardner takes pride in being the floor leader for Yates, the defending UIL Class 4A state

champion and a team expected to be highly ranked in upcoming preseason national polls. After a

great spring, followed by an equally prolific summer, Gardner is gearing up to lead Yates back to

the state tournament. After Yates' 34-1 record last season, expectations are high as the new

season approaches.

"We have to go into it with the mindset that we haven't won anything," said Gardner, a 5-foot-10,

163-pound senior. "Whether it's a pushover team or a top-ranked team, we've got to go in and

play the way we always play."

And that style of basketball may be the most intense in the entire state. Yates practices what head

coach Greg Wise calls "32 minutes of hell," a non-stop, in-your-face pressing defense resulting

in transition and fast-break buckets on offense. It helped Yates score 90 or more points in 27 out

of 35 games and 100 points or more 14 times last season.

With all five starters returning from last season, expect more of the same.

"Being the point guard, it's a fun to be controlling everything," Gardner said, "but I've got to give

credit to Coach Wise because he taught me how to run it. My job is easy. I run the floor and get

the ball to the open man, and I throw a lot of alley-oops."

at 6-foot-2, is one of the best jumping basketball players in the country. With Yates' run-and-gun

style, Gardner also threw a lot of alleys to the rest of the team, including last year's starters

Gardner's style of play fits in perfectly with Yates' top-notch athletes. His court vision and

unselfishness on offense and lightning-quick hands on defense make him a quality asset. Gardner

led the greater Houston area in assists and steals last season, averaging 9.7 assists and 5.7 steals

per game. He also averaged 16 points and four rebounds.

Gardner helped his recruiting stock by playing his first summer season with the Houston Hoops.

"It really showed me some things I can improve on, like playing the pick and roll and working

with the high-post scoring," Gardner said. "Playing with the Hoops and the talent we have, you're

going to be seen by a lot of scouts. Every time we played, it was crowded. The [Nike] Peach Jam

really exposed me."

Gardner said he's received offers from Stephen F. Austin, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, UTArlington,

SMU, Southeastern Louisiana and Texas State. He said he has a visit scheduled for

the first week of September at SFA. Gardner, in addition, has received letters from Missouri

State, Alabama, Wichita State, Wright State and TCU. Gardner hopes the list grows as he tries to

lead Yates to a repeat 4A championship.

"I don't think there's pressure on us to win again," Gardner said. "Pressure can be burst if we just

come out and take care of business. If we're focused and come with the same intensity, I don't

think anybody can beat us."

TexasHoops.com

The one they call "Pee Wee" made a grown man's decision on Tuesday.

play basketball for Stephen F. Austin, one of the Southland Conference's top schools. SFA is the

two-time defending Southland Conference regular-season champion, and it earned its first trip to

the NCAA tournament in March after winning the Southland Conference postseason tournament.

"I feel good about it," said Gardner, a 5-foot-10, 160-pound floor leader

and highly underestimated defender. "I liked the chemistry and love I

got from the coaches, players and community. Coach [Danny] Kaspar

has recruited me for the last two years, and I have a good relationship

with him."

Edward Gardner, Darius' father, added: "To know the struggle he's been

through and to see him pick a university that can help him academically

and athletically, you can't ask for anything else. I'm proud of him."

Gardner's commitment comes a couple days after Yates teammate

player who is "humble and hungry," someone who is coachable and

who has a blue-collar mentality.

Gardner, ranked No. 35 on TexasHoops.com's latest list of Class of 2010 players, chose SFA

over UT-Arlington, Texas State and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. He is expected to bring a

winning attitude to a Lumberjacks squad that has grown accustomed to winning. Gardner helped

Yates finish 34-1 and win the UIL Class 4A state championship in March. Yates is expected to

be a preseason top-10 nationally ranked team.

Gardner's averaged 16 points, 9.7 assists, 5.7 steals and four rebounds last season. He will bring

an unselfish-yet-aggressive style of play to Nacogdoches. He statistically led the greater Houston

area in assists and steals.

Gardner will receive tutelage from Kaspar, who was named the 2009 Texas Association of

Basketball Coaches Division I Coach of the Year in May. Kaspar led the Lumberjacks to a 24-8

record. Kaspar also has a very high graduation rate with his players, something that really caught

Gardner's attention.

"Coach Kaspar graduates 95 percent of his players," Gardner said. "A lot of players forget that

this is bigger than just basketball. Most schools have big classes, but SFA has smaller classes so

you can get more help from the teachers. That's important."

Oral commitments are nonbinding. The first day Gardner can sign a national letter of intent is

Nov. 11.