Oakland AD: 'We're interested in Horizon'--Fox Sports Detroit
Utah Jazz players reflect on treasured tournament moments--Deseret News
GORDON HAYWARD
The shooting guard loved his two-year experience at Butler. He won over college basketball fans' hearts while helping the Bulldogs advance to the 2010 NCAA championship game.
But his fondest memory happened a year before college.
"My favorite postseason moment," the 22-year-old said, "was when we won the state championship in high school."
That moment so happens to be a chapter in Hoosier State lore.
Hayward's 2008 Brownsburg team trailed 39-38 with 2.1 seconds remaining when Austin Fish made a long inbounds pass from three-quarters of the court away. An opponent tipped the ball, but Hayward grabbed it and quickly put it up and in just before the buzzer went off. Pandemonium ensued inside Conseco Fieldhouse after the Bulldogs edged Marion 40-39 for Indiana's coveted Class 4A crown in style.
"High school basketball in Indiana is, like, everything," Hayward said. "We were the underdogs. No one picked us to win that year, and then to win in the fashion that we did, it was just cool. Pretty special."
The party continued from Indianapolis to Brownsburg's auditorium 15 miles away. The championship team bus even had a police escort.
"We pulled into the high school gymnasium," Hayward said, "and pretty much the whole town was in there."
Not only did the Brownsburg boys receive a heroes welcome, but the celebration lasted past midnight and onto March 23 — Hayward's 18th birthday.
"Everybody sang 'Happy Birthday,' which was pretty cool," he said. "I never had a birthday sung like that."
Tyrone Corbin won’t make changes to Utah Jazz lineup for Game 3--Salt Lake Tribune
Jazz own advantage on line
Despite playing twice on the road, the Jazz have a 53-38 advantage in free-throw attempts against the Spurs.
"Especially in the playoffs," Gordon Hayward said, "you want to get as many easy points as you can. Points are so hard to come by and getting to the line is something we have to do a little bit more. It can get you going as a player and a team."
Hayward is 14 for 14 from the free-throw line in Games 1 and 2.
Shaken Jazz center Al Jefferson again playing biggest game of career--Salt Lake Tribune
He’s only 11 days removed from carrying the Jazz into the playoffs, teaming with players Paul Millsap, Devin Harris, Gordon Hayward and coach Tyrone Corbin to form a resilient group that refused to give in to low expectations.
NBA: Jazz, Spurs inspire each other to small-market success--Salt Lake Tribune
The Thunder’s success has been part-Jazz, part-Spurs. It’s given O’Connor a blueprint for a post-Deron Williams future. And it’s already provided Utah with a young core of Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter and Alec Burks that should be running the court long after Duncan has left the game and San Antonio has entered a new era.
Utah Jazz's Gordon Hayward receives votes for NBA's most improved player--Utah Jazz Notes
Jazz shootaround — Hayward says Utah will fight for its life in Game 3 against Spurs--Utah Jazz Notes
UIC adds two transfers--The Chicago Tribune
UIC adds 2 junior college players--Daily Herald
Pair of Murray State College Standouts Transfer to UIC Basketball--uicflames.com
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