Jelani Gardner

Jelani Akil Gardner (born December 26, 1975) is an American-French basketball coach and former professional player. He is 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) in height. He played mainly at the shooting guard position, but also at the point guard and small forward positions. He played with the Milton Keynes Lions Basketball Club until he was released in January 2011.[1]

Jelani Gardner
Personal information
Born (1975-12-26) December 26, 1975
NationalityAmerican / French
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High schoolSt. John Bosco
(Bellflower, California)
CollegeCalifornia (1994–1996)
Pepperdine (1997–1999)
NBA draft1999 / Undrafted
Playing career1999–2011
PositionShooting guard
Coaching career2012–present
Career history
As player:
1999Maccabi Rishon
1999–2000Fort Wayne Fury
2000Grand Rapids Hoops
2000BCJ Hamburg
2000–2001Roanoke Dazzle
2002–2003Roche-St Etienne
2003Reims
2003–2004Etendard Brest
2004ESPE Basket Châlons-en-Champagne
2004–2006GET Vosges
2006–2007Townsville Crocodiles
2007Hermine Nantes Basket
2007–2008Universitet Yugra Surgut
2008Trikala Aries B.C.
2010London Lions
2011ADA Blois
As coach:
2012–2013La Salle College Prep
2015–2016Bristol
2016–2017Duarte HS
2017–2018Blair HS
2018–2019South Hills HS
Career highlights and awards

College career

After playing high school basketball at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, California, Gardner played college basketball at the University of California. However, when his parents became disenchanted with their son's lack of playing time, they revealed to the NCAA that Todd Bozeman, Cal's head coach, had paid them about $30,000 over a two-year period so his parents could attend Jelani's games.[2] After the scandal broke, Gardner transferred to Pepperdine.[3] Bozeman was ultimately forced to resign and effectively blackballed from the college ranks until 2005, and Cal was forced to forfeit every game in which Gardner played (the entire 1994-95 season and all but two games of the 1995-96 season).

Professional career

A blood test as part of a pre-NBA Draft physical examination in 1995 revealed that Gardner had kidney disease, further hurting his NBA Draft stock.

Gardner played professionally with clubs such as Maccabi Rishon, the Grand Rapids Hoops, the Fort Wayne Fury, the Hamburg Tigers, the Roanoke Dazzle, Reims, Krka Novo Mesto, ESPE Basket Châlons-en-Champagne, AS Golbey-Epinal, Universitet Yugra Surgut, Trikala 2000 in his professional career.[4][5]

Finally, in 2002, after playing with kidney disease for 7 years, Gardner reached the critical stage of his condition and received a kidney transplant from his mother that year.[3]

References
  1. http://www.mklions.com/rosters/?id=5776
  2. http://california.scout.com/2/525233.html
  3. Gardner gets a second chance
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-08-15. Retrieved 2011-05-16.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. http://www.nba.com/dleague/players/jelani_gardner.html
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