NCAA Basketball: Breaking down the 5 finalists for transfer Jayden Gardner
By Matt Melton
Arkansas Razorbacks
The Arkansas Razorbacks recently picked up a big transfer in Pittsburgh’s Au’diese Toney, can they do the same with Gardner?
The Razorbacks make a lot of sense as a transfer destination for Gardner, partly due to this past season’s success. Head coach Eric Musselman underwent a near-complete roster turnover from year one to year two, partly due to the transfer portal and recruiting. As evident by a 25-7 overall record and a trip to the Elite 8, the turnover worked.
Another reason that a move to Fayetteville for Gardner makes sense is the success of forward Justin Smith. Smith, a senior, transferred from Indiana and played a massive role for the Razorbacks this past season putting up career-highs in almost every major statistical category. Gardner and Smith are very similar physically, and Gardner would most likely play a similar role to what Smith did.
While it’s unknown what Arkansas’ 2021-2022 roster will look like, there are some nice pieces guaranteed to be there including Toney and incoming 4-star freshman guard Chance Moore. If there is a move among Gardner’s finalists that makes sense based off of previous success, it’s the Arkansas Razorbacks.