Hot! Gordon Hayward

From Hoopedia

Gordon Daniel Hayward(born March 23 , 1990 , in Brownsburg, Indiana, USA) is an American basketball player who is currently playing for the NBA 's National Basketball Association after emerging as a superstar in his sophomore (second) year, leading his team to a runner-up finish in the 2010 NCAA Tournament. He is predicted to be a mid to late first round draft pick in the 2010 NBA Draft .

Early Life

Gordon Hayward was born on March 23, 1990, in Brownsburg, Indiana. Hayward's first appearance in the sports pages was not in basketball but in tennis; he and his twin sister Heather were featured in a regional edition of the Indianapolis Star when they played mixed doubles together at the Indiana State Open in 2005. Heather had already played #1 singles for their high school team, and Gordon would follow in his sister's footsteps the next year; at the time, they hoped to attend their parents' alma mater of Purdue University. Although Gordon I's first love was basketball, he would later recall, "I looked at the future and figured playing basketball in college wasn't realistic."

High School

Hayward attended high school at Brownsburg High School, located in his hometown Brownsburg, Indiana. His coach was Joshua Kendrick. There, he was a first team All-State performer. He was named Indianapolis Star Player of the Year. Hayward was chosen to the Indiana All-Star Team for the annual summer Indiana-Kentucky All-Star series. He received the Arthur L. Trester Award, presented to the outstanding senior participant in each classification, based on excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability, at the 4A state finals. Hawyard averaged 13.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists for 14-9 Brownsburg as a junior.finished high school career with 929 points. He ranks in the "Top Five" at Brownsburg in career rebounds (398), career assists (198) and career steals (176). He helped Brownsburg to a 48-25 record over three varsity seasons and earned three varsity basketball letters.

College

Hayward attended college at , in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he played college basketball for the . Hayward, a somewhat unheralded freshman,who despite a learning disability, made an instant impact in his freshman year (2008 09). Butler had lost four starters from a 30-win season and were picked fifth in the Horizon League. However, the Bulldogs went 26 5 and won the Horizon League. Hayward averaged 13.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game and was named Horizon Newcomer of the Year and first team All-Conference.

In the offseason, Hayward was selected to Team USA for the 2009 FIBA Under-19 World Championship in Auckland, New Zealand . Playing for Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon , Hayward was a surprise star for the Championship squad, averaging 10 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. At the conclusion of the tournament, Hayward was named to the "All-Star Five" of the event, with teammate .

After raising his profile in the FIBA tournament, Hayward was named to numerous preseason All-America teams, and was a preseason candidate for the Wooden Award and the Naismith Award prior to the 2009 10 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. He was also named preseason All-Horizon League.

During the 2009 10 season, Hayward was the only player to finish in the Horizon League's top five in both scoring and rebounding; he was also in the league's top 10 in field goal percentage, free throw percentage, blocked shots, offensive rebounding, defensive rebounding (in which he led the league), and minutes per game. A dispute with his father, over a pizza hidden under a bed a bed because of dietary restriction. At the end of the regular season, he was named the Horizon League Player of the Year. Hayward was also was named a third team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American. In the NCAA Tournament, Hayward was named the MVP of the West Region as he led Butler to the National Championship game. In the championship game against Duke he missed the game-winning half-court shot, by a matter of inches, which would have given Butler their very first NCAA championship.

On April 14 , 2010 , Hayward's father confirmed to the Indianapolis Star that his son would submit his name for consideration in the 2010 NBA Draft , but he would not immediately hire an agent. He had until May 8 to withdraw from the draft and retain his college eligibility. However, on the day before the withdrawal deadline, Hayward announced that he would stay in the draft and give up his remaining college eligibility. At the time he announced for the draft, he was widely expected to be selected in the top 20 picks, and that assessment did not change before the deadline. When announcing that he was leaving for the NBA , Hayward said that he planned to eventually complete his degree.

NBA

Hayward was selected in the first round (9th pick overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft by the .

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