Eric Gordon

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Lore & Background

Gordon was born in Indianapolis. At age four, he began playing sports at the Jewish Community Center across the street from his home, starting with soccer and then quickly moving on to basketball. At age seven he began playing competitive basketball at the Municipal Gardens. It was at the JCC that Gordon announced his departure from college to enter his name into the NBA draft. He attended Fox Hill Elementary School, then Northview Middle School and North Central High School, where he played varsity basketball all four years. North Central's 2007 game against Loyola Academy featuring Michael Jordan's sons was aired on ESPN. He scored a record high of 43 points that night, later scoring 50 points twice during the season. He led North Central to the Indiana 4A title game his senior year, falling to E'Twaun Moore, Angel Garcia and East Chicago Central. Gordon averaged 29 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 57.0% from the field, 77.9% from the free-throw line, and 46.2% from three-point range. He was named Indiana's 'Mr. Basketball' for 2007 as well as a McDonald's All-American. Rivals.com ranked him the nation's #2 high school prospect in the class of 2007, behind Michael Beasley. During the summer, Gordon attended many AAU tournaments, Adidas Superstar camps, and Big Time in Las Vegas. He played on teams that included future NBA players Mike Conley Jr., Josh McRoberts, Daequan Cook, Derrick Rose and Greg Oden.

In Their Own Story

The arena hums with tension as the clock ticks down to seconds left. Eric Gordon catches the inbound pass near the top of the key, sweat stinging his eyes. The defense collapses, but he doesn't hesitate. With a quick crossover and a rise that defies gravity, he releases a deep three-pointer. The swish echoes through the Smoothie King Center as the crowd erupts, sealing another unforgettable night for 'Godzilla' in New Orleans.

Reader's Guide

Gordon made an early verbal commitment to Bruce Weber at Illinois in 2005, but later switched to Indiana after Kelvin Sampson was hired. He signed a National Letter of Intent with Indiana on November 8, 2006. At Indiana, he played shooting guard for one year, was Big Ten Freshman of the Year, third team All-American, and IU's all-time leading freshman scorer. He set a record at IU and in the Big Ten with 669 points. He averaged 20.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game, making 33.7% of his three-point shots and leading the Big Ten in scoring. He announced on April 4, 2008, at the Jewish Community Center that he would enter the 2008 NBA draft. He was drafted with the seventh pick in the 2008 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Clippers.

Did You Know?

• Gordon was born on December 25, 1988.
• He was named Indiana Mr. Basketball in 2007.
• He scored a record high of 43 points in a high school game aired on ESPN.
• He set a Big Ten record with 669 points in his freshman season at Indiana.
• He announced his departure for the NBA draft at the Jewish Community Center where he first played sports.