Welcome to A10 Talk’s Preseason Top 25 Player Countdown for the 2018-19 season. Each day, we’ll be publishing a new article counting down our best 25 players for the coming season, as voted on by our staff of writers. Today, we feature #21 Carte’Are Gordon of Saint Louis.
What He’s Done
Gordon has yet to put on a Billikens uniform in a game, but he’s already made national news. Watch below:
.@CoachTFord5 said #TeamBlue is going to be bigger, stronger and more powerful, but .
(Carte’Are is OK. The backboard? Not so much.) #Billikenspic.twitter.com/8ac9q5yWmO
— SLU Men’s Basketball (@SaintLouisMBB) September 6, 2018
WOW! Let’s watch that again:
.@CoachTFord5 said #TeamBlue is going to be bigger, stronger and more powerful, but 😳😳😳.
(Carte’Are is OK. The backboard? Not so much.) #Billikens🔵⚪️pic.twitter.com/8ac9q5yWmO
— SLU Men’s Basketball (@SaintLouisMBB) September 6, 2018
Gordon comes into SLU with the type of blue chip pedigree that few, if any, in the A-10 can rival. The Webster Groves (MO) product chose hometown SLU over Kansas and Mizzou and at one point was the 9th ranked player in his class. He finished as a four star, but there’s a gap between the type of four star that Gordon is and the type that say, Jermaine Harris is, regardless of ranking. Gordon is an elite talent and always has been. He has won at every level, with a trophy case that includes a U-17 World Championship, a Peach Jam championship, and multiple state championships. He’s incredibly physically developed as a freshman, listed at 6’9, 230 and his performances in practice have led Travis Ford to compare him to Ford’s old college teammate Jamal Mashburn. Gordon also has a tattoo that reads “St. Louis” on one of his forearms. That doesn’t really affect his play but it’s so cool that Gordon literally wears his hometown on his sleeve.
What He’ll Do
Gordon will have an immediate impact paired with sophomore Hasahn French in the Billikens’ front court. He’s a tenacious rebounder and a strong post scorer with an accurate jumpshot out to the midrange and good ball handling ability for his size. He’s also a solid passer who’s used to drawing lots of attention in the post. The moment Gordon steps on the floor, he will be one of the most physically impressive big men in the A-10, which is rare for a freshman. Big men usually acclimate to the college game slower than guards, but Gordon looks like he’ll be the exception to the rule. If things go according to expectation, fans of rival A-10 programs will be praying that Gordon leaves for the draft early in these next few years.
Previously: #22 Taylor Funk
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