Nevada Basketball: Wolf Pack scores with four-star center Jazz Gardner

It’s another top-100 pickup for a Mountain West program, as Nevada Basketball lands incoming freshman center, Jazz Gardner.

Like all teams, Nevada Basketball has had to deal with some roster movement, both good and bad. That includes both of its starting frontcourt players, Darrion Williams and Will Baker. Both were tough blows, as Baker is coming off a 13.6 ppg and 5.2 rpg campaign as the starting center.

The Wolf Pack added a couple of frontcourt players via the portal. Once was Tylan Pope, a 6’6 forward that averaged 6.5 ppg and 4.4 rpg at Tulane in 19 mpg. And Jeriah Coleman is a JUCO transfer that spent two years previously at Saint Francis (PA). But there’s not a ton of proven depth that the team will need to compete for a top-half spot in the league next season.

Enters Jazz Gardner. He’s a four-star prospect and one of the top uncommitted players in the 2023 recruiting class. The 7’0 big man from California had a quiet recruitment, waiting until the offseason to get things going. He had a list of options come out that included San Francisco, Ole Miss, Florida State, and Georgia Tech. Plus, he took a visit to the Oregon Ducks afterward.

It looked as if the Wolf Pack were going to lose out on Gardner to a power conference opponent but in the end, they were able to land his commitment. Not only is he a long-term option for the program but Gardner can help Nevada win now. They still return two of its best players, Jarod Lucas and Kenan Blackshear and if others such as this four-star commit can provide a boost, this could be a sneaky threat in the Mountain West next season.

With UNLV, San Diego State, and even New Mexico State all landing big talent this offseason, Nevada and Coach Steve Alford need to keep up in this recruiting arms race. Having a late win with Gardner helps with that.