Eric Gaines

Last updated
Eric Gaines
No. 4UAB Blazers
Position Guard
League Conference USA
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–present)

Eric Gaines (born January 19, 2001) is an American college basketball player for the UAB Blazers. He previously played for the LSU Tigers.

Contents

Early life

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 attention during his first two years. [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 play for the LSU Tigers. [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 9 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 the UAB Blazers. [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]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyrus Thomas</span> American basketball player

Tyrus Wayne Thomas is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for Louisiana State University (LSU) before being drafted fourth overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2006 NBA draft. He was then traded to the Chicago Bulls where he went on to play three and a half seasons when in February 2010, he was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats.

The 1993–94 NBA season was the 24th season for the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association. In the off-season, the Blazers acquired Harvey Grant from the Washington Bullets, and signed free agent Chris Dudley. However, an ankle injury limited Dudley only to just six games. The Blazers held a 27–20 record at the All-Star break, and finished the season with a 47–35 record, fourth in the Pacific Division and seventh in the Western Conference. It was their 12th straight trip to the postseason.

Carldell "Squeaky" Johnson is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball at the University of Alabama-Birmingham from 2003 to 2006 after beginning his collegiate career at Salt Lake Community College. Since turning professional in 2006, he has spent time with three different teams in Mexico and two in Belgium, as well as having multiple stints with the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League. He has been a non-roster invitee of the San Antonio Spurs on two occasions and played with the New Orleans Hornets during the 2011–12 NBA season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Simmons</span> Australian basketball player (born 1996)

Benjamin David Simmons is an Australian professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for one season with the LSU Tigers, after which he was named a consensus first-team All-American and the USBWA National Freshman of the Year. Simmons was selected with the first overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. After sitting out a year due to an injured right foot, he was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2018 and was selected three times to the NBA All-Star Game. As the result of a holdout from the 76ers following the 2020–21 season, which led him to be traded to the Nets, Simmons is the most-fined player in NBA history, in terms of total financial loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ovie Soko</span> British basketball player

Ovie Soko is a British professional basketball player for the London Lions of the British Basketball League (BBL). Soko played college basketball for the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Duquesne University. He entered the 2014 NBA draft but he was not selected in the draft's two rounds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Quarterman</span> American basketball player

Tim Quarterman is an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball for Louisiana State University (LSU).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Knox II</span> American basketball player (born 1999)

Kevin Devon Knox II is an American professional basketball player for the Rip City Remix of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats. Knox was selected ninth overall by the New York Knicks in the 2018 NBA draft.

Duop Thomas Reath is an Australian professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Lee College Runnin’ Rebels and the LSU Tigers and was part of the Australian Basketball team that won bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandon Sampson</span> American basketball player

Brandon Sampson is an American professional basketball player who last played for Hapoel Be'er Sheva of the Ligat HaAl. He played college basketball for Louisiana State University (LSU).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trendon Watford</span> American basketball player

Trendon Nelson Watford is an American professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the LSU Tigers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skylar Mays</span> American basketball player

Skylar Justin Mays is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the South Bay Lakers of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the LSU Tigers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Javonte Smart</span> American basketball player (born 1999)

Javonte Dedrick Smart is an American professional basketball player for Crvena zvezda of the Basketball League of Serbia (KLS), the ABA League and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for the LSU Tigers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Makhtar Gueye (basketball)</span> Senegalese basketball player (born 1997)

Makhtar Gueye is a Senegalese basketball player. He also plays for the Senegal national basketball team. Gueye played college basketball for the UAB Blazers for three years.

Christopher Keon Johnson is an American professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Long Island Nets of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Tennessee Volunteers.

The UAB Blazers men's basketball statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the UAB Blazers men's basketball program in various categories, including points, assists, blocks, rebounds, and steals. Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season, and career leaders. The Blazers represent the University of Alabama at Birmingham in the NCAA's American Athletic Conference.

Jordan Smith is an American football linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida, Butler (KS) and UAB.

Zack Bryant is an American professional basketball player for Milon of the Greek A2 Basket League. He played college basketball for UAB and Georgia Southern.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan Walker (basketball)</span> American basketball player

Jordan "Jelly" Walker is an American professional basketball player for the Osos de Manatí of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN). He played college basketball for the Seton Hall Pirates, Tulane Green Wave and UAB Blazers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tari Eason</span> American basketball player (born 2001)

Tari Jordan Eason is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Cincinnati Bearcats and the LSU Tigers. Eason was selected 17th overall in the 2022 NBA draft by the Houston Rockets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trey Jemison</span> American basketball player

Richard Lee "Trey" Jemison III is an American professional basketball player for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Memphis Hustle of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Clemson Tigers and UAB Blazers.

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.