Unanimous preseason all-AAC Gardner was voted as a unanimous selection to the 2020-21 Preseason All-AAC First team. Impact Gardner fell a few votes shy of Preaseason Player of the Year winner Caleb Mills, but it could easily be argued that Gardner is the safer fantasy option in the conference due to sustained production as a starter in each of his first two seasons. While East Carolina is still expected to finish in the bottom-3 of the American Conference, Gardner should keep shining as a nightly double-double machine. It's unclear if he's reached his ceiling after averaging 19.7 points and 9.2 rebounds over 31 games in his sophomore year, but those are incredible baselines even in nationwide formats. Gardner and the Pirates are set to open up their season Nov. 25 against Indiana State.
NOVEMBER 16, 2020 • ROTOWIRE