Yes, he is. Jason Gardner Jr. has recognizable name. The Fishers' freshman also has game

FISHERS – It has been 25 years since his father was the state’s best high school basketball player, averaging more than 22 points a game and leading his team to a Class 4A state championship.

Big shoes, especially considering the name “Jason Gardner Jr.” invariably elicits a response. “Is he …?” or “His son?” Yes, to both questions.

“A lot of people who walk up to me always talk to me about my dad,” Gardner Jr. said with a smile. “They talk about how we have similarities in our games.”

His father, Jason Gardner Sr., was the 1999 IndyStar Mr. Basketball at North Central before going on to be an All-American at Arizona, where his number is retired and he is currently on the coaching staff as the director of player relations. But Gardner Jr. does not feel the weight of expectations. Perhaps it would be different if he was asked to carry the scoring load and produce big numbers every game.

As a freshman for 4A top-ranked Fishers, which improved to 11-0 with a 74-42 victory over Chesterton on Friday night in the championship of its eight-team holiday tournament, Gardner Jr. can be himself. Which is increasingly impressive considering he is just at the outset of his high school basketball experience.

In the second quarter against Chesterton, Gardner Jr. scored eight of Fishers’ 11 points, including a driving shot where he seemingly was able to defy gravity long enough for the Chesterton defenders to drop back to the court before he dropped the ball into the basket.

“He’s unbelievably elite at what he does with the basketball,” Fishers coach Garrett Winegar said. “I’ve really never seen anything like it from a freshman. He’s able to get to his spot on pretty much anybody. We saw it in the first game against Ben Davis where we’re giving him the ball and spreading it (out) and he’s making the right play. He’s able to put up points in bunches. We were struggling a little bit early and he was able to come in and set the tone, not only scoring but on the ball (defense), staying in front of people.”

Gardner Jr. is one of the first players off the bench for Fishers, which uses its depth and full-court press to wear down opponents. That was certainly the case Friday night against Chesterton (6-4), which trailed only 30-25 at halftime. Taden Metzger hit four of his six 3-pointers in the third quarter as the Tigers outscored the Trojans 27-6 to put the game on ice.

Fishers’ style seems like a perfect fit for Gardner Jr., who either plays alongside or replaces another freshman guard, Cooper Zachary, in the Tigers’ lineup.

“At the beginning of the season I think I was still finding my place,” Gardner Jr. said. “But the last couple games I’ve been hitting my spots and feeling more comfortable and knowing what I can do. When I first came in, the only person I really knew well was Cooper. But as the season has gone along, we’ve gotten closer and closer and I think that has translated to the court, which has made it easier.”

From a physical standpoint, Gardner Jr. said he feels comfortable on the court already. But there are other intricacies of the game, including becoming the consistent dogged on-ball defender that his coach wants him to be, where experience will help.

“I think it’s the little things like talking on defense, cutting, screening, boxing out,” he said. “All those things that I didn’t realize would be so big in high school basketball.”

Because his dad is in Arizona, Gardner Sr. watches his son’s games on Hudl. But Gardner Sr. was able to watch the Hamilton Southeastern game in person on the weekend Arizona played Purdue at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

“I think our games are similar,” Gardner Jr. said. “We are both explosive and get to the rim really well. We both can pass well, but I think I have a better floater. But I know people tell me he was all that and I’ve seen it online and stuff so I know it, too.”

There are high expectations, of course. But not because of his name alone.

“I try not to think about it too much because I don’t want to get in my head,” Gardner Jr. said. “My dad’s always telling me I’m going to be better than him so he doesn’t want me to think about it too much. I just think my role now is to bring a lot of energy, whether that is scoring or getting the ball to my teammates.”

Winegar said he sees the progress every day with Gardner Jr.

“His ability to get to the rim and finish with both hands is about as good as any kid I’ve ever seen as a freshman.”

Gardner Jr. is a piece of the puzzle for a Tigers’ team that has passed every test to date. Chesterton coach Marc Urban said Fishers was as good as advertised. The Trojans defeated South Bend Riley 66-57 in a semifinal earlier Friday behind a 24-point effort from Tyler Parrish. Fishers pulled away from stubborn Portage 62-45 in the other semifinal.

“They are impressive because they have a lot of good pieces,” Urban said of Fishers. “They have shooters, bigs, guards, good athletes. But they play really well together and the stuff they run is really good and they wear you down with their pressure. It’s hard to get into stuff. They are an impressive team. For us it was a good chance to get two wins and then go see where we’re at against the best and learn from it.”

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Jason Gardner Jr.: Fishers freshman has recognizable name, plenty of game