Eric Gaines

Last updated
Eric Gaines
Maine Celtics
Position Point guard
League NBA G League
Personal information
Born (2001-01-19) January 19, 2001 (age 23)
New Jersey, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight165 lb (75 kg)
Career information
High school Lithonia (Stonecrest, Georgia)
College
  • LSU (2020–2022)
  • UAB (2022–2024)
NBA draft 2024: undrafted
Playing career2024–present
Career history
2024–present Maine Celtics

Eric T. Gaines (born January 19, 2001) is an American professional basketball player for the Maine Celtics of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the LSU Tigers and UAB Blazers.

Contents

Early life and high school career

Gaines was born in New Jersey and moved to Lithonia, Georgia, as a child. [1] He first played football but transitioned into basketball. [1] Gaines was taller than his teammates and primarily played as a center but utilised his speed for a playstyle that involved him grabbing a defensive rebound and beating defenders up the court with his dribble. [1]

Gaines attended Lithonia High School where he did not receive much scouting attention during his first two seasons. [1] He developed a reputation for his dunking abilities during his senior year and received comparisons to Ja Morant which Gaines attributes to increasing his recruitment offers. [1] He averaged 18.6 points, 4 assists, and 2.7 steals per game during his senior season. [2] Gaines was selected as the Atlanta Journal-Constitution All-Metro DeKalb County Player of the Year. [3] [4] He was a four-star recruit and committed to playing college basketball for LSU. [1]

College career

Gaines averaged 2.5 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game during his freshman season with the LSU Tigers. [5] He improved his output to nine points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game during his sophomore season while his 2.1 steals per game led the Southeastern Conference. [4] [5] Gaines was primarily utilised as a distributor and defender with the Tigers. [1] He decided to transfer from the team when head coach Will Wade was fired after the 2021–22 season. [1]

On April 12, 2022, Gaines committed to play for UAB. [2] [5] He averaged 11.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game during the 2022–23 season. [6] Gaines declared for the 2023 NBA draft but withdrew on May 30, 2023. [7]

Professional career

Maine Celtics (2024–present)

On April 5, 2024, Gaines declared for the 2024 NBA draft, [8] but went undrafted. [9] On October 26, 2024, Gaines was selected by the Maine Celtics in the 2024 NBA G League draft. [10]

Career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage 3P%  3-point field goal percentage FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high

College

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2020–21 LSU 29113.4.222.172.7271.41.21.0.22.5
2021–22 LSU 34826.9.391.250.7933.32.92.1.59.0
2022–23 UAB 392929.1.394.343.7933.44.31.8.611.5
2023–24 UAB 353333.7.393.269.7503.95.52.3.512.3
Career1377126.4.380.279.7733.13.61.9.59.2

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Irvine, Steve (September 12, 2022). "Point guard Eric Gaines brings his 'high risk, high reward' style to UAB basketball". 1819 News. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  2. 1 2 "UAB Adds LSU Transfer Eric Gaines to Roster". The University of Alabama at Birmingham. April 12, 2022. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  3. ↑ Holcomb, Todd (March 26, 2020). "2019-20 High school basketball All-Metro boys team". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  4. 1 2 Richburg, Jason (April 6, 2022). "Top College Hoopers out of Atlanta". The Signal. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 Dudley, Evan (April 12, 2022). "UAB basketball adds LSU transfer Eric Gaines". Advance Local. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  6. ↑ Almanza, Clemente (May 23, 2023). "Report: Eric Gaines worked out for the Thunder in pre-draft visit". USA Today. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  7. ↑ Dudley, Evan (May 30, 2023). "UAB's Eric Gaines withdraws from NBA Draft". Advance Local. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  8. ↑ Dudley, Evan (April 5, 2024). "UAB basketball's Eric Gaines declares for NBA draft". AL.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  9. ↑ Inabinett, Mark (June 27, 2024). "Alabama prospects shut out in 78th annual NBA Draft". AL.com. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  10. ↑ Martin, Spencer (October 26, 2024). "Celtics Select Three In G League Draft". NBA.com. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
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