Jason Gardner Jr., one of the top point guards in the class of 2027, is expected to be in Bloomington tonight for an unofficial visit to Indiana as the Hoosiers host rival Purdue at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
Gardner, a 6-foot-1 floor general out of Fishers High School (IN), is currently ranked No. 25 nationally in the 2027 class by 247Sports. His résumé already reads like that of a seasoned winner.
As a freshman, he helped lead Fishers to a Class 4A state championship. As a sophomore, they finished as the state runner-up.
Now a junior, Gardner has his Tigers sitting at a perfect 16-0 and ranked No. 1 in Indiana’s Class 4A.
Indiana’s staff has certainly taken notice. Assistants Drew Adams and Rod Clark have both made in-person trips to see Gardner play this season. There’s clearly mutual interest-Gardner spoke in December about his strong rapport with Adams and his intent to get back to Bloomington soon.
Tonight’s visit comes amid frigid conditions across central Indiana, with wind chills plunging below zero and snowfall topping 10 inches in some areas. But even the weather might not be enough to keep Gardner away from a rivalry game atmosphere that could give him a closer look at what Indiana basketball is all about.
Gardner has been sidelined recently due to a wrist injury but is targeting a return to action in early February. When healthy, he’s electric.
His speed and burst with the ball are elite, and he’s a nightmare for defenders to stay in front of. He can turn the corner with either hand, manipulate defenders with pace changes, and create scoring opportunities from just about anywhere on the court.
He’s not just a scorer, either. Gardner’s vision and ball-handling allow him to create for others, threading passes through tight windows and keeping defenses honest. He’s a true lead guard who can shift gears on a dime and make plays going left or right.
Recruiters have taken notice. Gardner holds offers from a who’s-who of college basketball programs, including Arizona, Auburn, Cincinnati, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Purdue, Texas, UCLA, UNLV, Creighton, and DePaul. He’s made unofficial visits to several of those schools already-UCLA, Florida, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Kentucky, and Purdue among them-and has been on Indiana’s campus multiple times in the past.
College coaches have been tracking him closely all season. North Carolina has already been in the building for one of his games, while Minnesota and Oregon were in attendance for a scrimmage.
Gardner’s stock rose significantly over the spring and summer as he starred with the Indiana Elite AAU program, climbing to No. 25 nationally and earning recognition as the No. 3 combo guard in the 2027 class.
He’s got the game, the pedigree, and the poise. And tonight, he’ll get another up-close look at a program that’s clearly in the mix for one of the Midwest’s most dynamic young guards.