Gordon Hayward and Butler helped make this year's NCAA tourney memorable. Going by what we will call the "Upset Quotient," the 2010 tournament was the fourth-most unpredictable since the NCAA began seeding the field in 1979. Mike Huguenin has more.
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2010 (Senior):HEADER GORDON HAYWARD III Small Forward/Shooting Guard Butler University Bulldogs #20 6:06.7-211 Brownsburg, Indiana Brownsburg High School
OVERVIEW The fourth "Gordon" in his family, Hayward and his twin sister, Heather, were first introduced to sports on the tennis court. His parents, both standing 5-foot-10, believed that Gordon III was destined to be average-sized. The twins were featured in a regional edition of the Indianapolis Star when they played mixed doubles together at the Indiana State Open in 2005.
Heather had already played No. 1 singles for the Brownsburg High School team, and Gordon III would follow in his sister's footsteps the next year; at the time, they hoped to attend their parents' alma mater of Purdue University. The twins' plans changed when Gordon III underwent an unexpected growth spurt.
As a freshman in high school, he was 5-11 -- taller than his parents, and above Heather's ultimate height of 5-9 -- not a height usually associated with high-level basketball prospects. Although Gordon III's first love was basketball, he would later recall, "I looked at the future and figured playing basketball in college wasn't realistic." His father, Gordon Jr., continually pushed his son to develop a guard's skill set.
By his high school junior year, Hayward was 6-foot-7. That season, he verbally committed to Butler for basketball, but skipped AAU summer basketball because he wanted to put in enough tennis practice to contend for a state high school title in his senior year.
He had a 26-3 record in singles that season, but lost in the state tournament and has not played tennis -- even recreationally, he says -- since then. Heather, on the other hand, stayed with the sport and is currently on Butler's tennis team.
Hayward attended Brownsburg High School, lettering three times in basketball. By his senior year, he earned first-team All-State honors and was named Indianapolis Star Player of the Year. The team captain and All-Conference player, he was named Academic All-State, as he also averaged 18.0 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists, while helping Brownsburg to a 22-5 record and the Indiana Class 4A state championship.
As a senior, Hayward hit 44 three-point field goals in 2007-08. He posted a high game of 30 points vs. Westfield and had a career-best 19 rebounds vs. North Central. He hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer to lead Brownsburg past Marion, 40-39, in the state title game. He received the Arthur L. Trester Award, presented to the outstanding senior participant in each classification, based on excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability, at the 4A state finals.
Hayward averaged 13.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists for a 14-9 Brownsburg team as a junior. He finished his school career with 929 points and ranks in the "Top Five" at Brownsburg in career rebounds (398), career assists (198) and career steals (176), as he helped the team to a 48-25 record over three varsity seasons.
Hayward was chosen to the Indiana All-Star Team for the annual summer Indiana-Kentucky All-Star series. He totaled 11 points, eight rebounds and three steals to help lead Indiana past Kentucky at Conseco Fieldhouse. He also scored six points and grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds in the second Indiana-Kentucky All-Star Game.
Hayward, was a somewhat unheralded freshman, who despite a learning disability, made an instant impact in his first year (2008?09) at Butler. The team lost four starters from a 30-win season and was picked fifth in the Horizon League. However, the Bulldogs went 26?5 and won the league title, as Hayward averaged 13.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. He was named Horizon Newcomer of the Year and first team all-conference.
In the offseason, Hayward was selected to Team USA for the 2009 FIBA Under-19 World Championship in Auckland, New Zealand. Playing for Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon, Hayward was a surprise star for the Championship squad, averaging 10.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. At the conclusion of the tournament, he was named to the "All-Star Five" of the event, with teammate Tyshawn Taylor.
After raising his profile in the FIBA tournament, Hayward was named to numerous preseason All-American teams, and was a preseason candidate for the Wooden Award and the Naismith Award prior to the 2009?10 NCAA Division I basketball season. During what would eventually be his final campaign, he was the only player to finish in the Horizon League's top five in both scoring and rebounding.
Hayward was also in the league's top 10 in field goal percentage, free throw percentage, blocked shots, offensive rebounding, defensive rebounding (in which he led the league), and minutes per game. At the end of the regular season, he was named the Horizon League Player of the Year.
Hayward was also was named a third-team ESPN Magazine Academic All-American. In the NCAA Tournament, he was named the MVP of the West Region, as he led Butler to the National Championship game. In the championship game vs. Duke he missed the game-winning half-court shot which would have given Butler their very first NCAA championship.
In 37 consecutive starts, Hayward scored a career-high 572 points (15.5 per game), making 82.9 percent of his free throws while shooting 46.4 percent from the field. He averaged 8.2 rebounds per game, handed out 62 assists, registered 40 steals and paced the Bulldogs with 30 blocked shots.
On April 14, Hayward's father confirmed to the Indianapolis Star that his son would forgo his final two years of college eligibility and enter his name into the 2010 NBA Draft. The coaching staff hoped that he would change his mind and return to school, but on May 7, the sophomore informed the school that he would remain in the draft.
Many talent evaluators projected that Hayward would be one of the first 20 players selected. His Chicago pre-draft camp performance has further elevated that projection. Butler has not had a player in the NBA since 1952-53, when Ralph "Buckshot" O'Brien played for teams in Indianapolis and Baltimore.
GAME ANALYSIS 2008-09 SEASON Named first-team All-Horizon League and selected the league's Newcomer of the Year while also making the All-Newcomer Team...Selected to the Foxsports.com National All-Freshman Team...Chosen to the second-team NABC All-District XII team...Picked third- team All-Freshman by CollegeHoops.net...Set a Butler freshman record with seven three-point field goals vs. both Ohio State and UIC...Named Horizon League Player of the Week three times...Started all 32 game for the Bulldogs...Recorded double figure scoring in 20 games...Tallied 420 points (13.1 points per game) on 125-of-261 field goals (47.9 percent), hitting on 44.8 percent of his three-point attempts (69-of-154)?Connected on 81.5 percent of his tries from the foul line (101-of-124)?Averaged 6.5 rebounds per game (207), as he blocked 30 shots, collected 48 steals and was credited with 63 assists (2.0 per game)?Had three double-double performances and recorded at least ten rebounds in four contests.
2008-09 SEASON Finished with 11 points and seven rebounds in his college debut at Drake...Scored 15 points to go along with six rebounds, two steals and an assist in only 17 minutes of action vs. IU-South Bend...Hit five three point field goals, scored 20 points and posted a career-high four assists to lead the Bulldogs over Bradley...Made a career-high seven three-point fields and scored 25 points at Ohio State...Recorded his first career double-double while posting 19 points, 10 rebounds, a career-high four blocked shots and three steals in Butler's upset win over #14 Xavier...Posted consectutive double-doubles with 15 points and a career-high 13 rebounds vs. Valparaiso followed by 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds vs. Wright State...Had 14 points and six rebounds in Butler's win over Green Bay at home...Had a game high 18 points vs. Valparaiso...Hit four of four three point shots and led the Bulldogs in scoring with 22 points at Detroit...Recorded team-highs of seven rebounds and four assists in Butler's victory at Wright State...Led the Bulldogs at Davidson with a career-high 27 points and nine rebounds in the Bracketbuster game...Had a game-high eight rebounds in the Horizon League Tournament semifinals vs. Wright State...Shared the team led in rebounds with nine vs. Cleveland State in the Horizon League Tournament Championship game...Recorded 12 points, six rebounds and four assists vs. LSU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
GAME ANALYSIS Led the Bulldogs with 17 points and eight rebounds in the season-opening victory over Davidson...Recorded his fourth career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds at Northwestern...Had 15 points and six rebounds at Evansville....Posted his second double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds vs. #16 Minnesota...Hit two free throws with 0:00.6 remaining to lift Butler past UCLA in the second round of the 76 Classic, as he had 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds vs. the Bruins...Recorded his third double-double of the season with team-highs of 18 points and 12 rebounds vs. Clemson in the 76 Classic...Shared the team scoring lead with 15 points and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds at Ball State...Led Butler with 18 points and a career-high five assists in the Bulldogs' league-opener vs. Valparaiso...Had 24 points, a team-high eight rebounds and two blocked shots vs. Georgetown in the Jimmy V Classic...Recorded seventh career double-double with a game-high 22 points and 14 rebounds vs. Xavier...Led the Bulldogs with 12 points and 15 rebounds at UAB...Recorded his sixth double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds at home vs. Milwaukee...Hit a career-high 13 of 14 free throws and scored 20 points in Butler's victory at Wright State...Scored a team-high 17 points, including a free throw to send the game into overtime, in Butler's victory at Detroit...Was hospitalized by an upper respiratory infection on the day of the game and managed just eight points in Butler's home win over Cleveland State...Shared the team scoring lead with 12 points at Loyola...Hit a career-high 10 field goals, scored a season-high 25 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds in 27 minutes at UIC...Matched his career-high with 13 free throws made and scored a game-high 25 points at Milwaukee...Hit 10 of 10 free throws, recorded his seventh double-double and led the Bulldogs with 18 points and 10 rebounds in Butler's home win over Detroit...Posted eighth double-double of the season with a game-high 22 points and a career-high 17 rebounds at Youngstown State...Had his ninth double-double of the season with 19 points and 11 rebounds at Cleveland State...Posted his third straight double-double and his 10th of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds at home vs. UIC...Recorded his fourth straight double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds in Butler's home victory over Siena...Sat out Butler's game at Valparaiso with lower back pain...Returned to Butler's starting lineup and recorded his fifth consecutive double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds vs. Milwaukee in the semifinals of the Horizon League Tournament...Hit nine of 11 free throws and scored 13 points vs. UTEP in the first round of the NCAA Tournament...Posted 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds vs. Murray State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament...Led Butler with 17 points vs. Syracuse in the West Regional semifinals...Had game-highs of 22 points and nine rebounds vs. Kansas State in the championship game of the West Regional?Led the Bulldogs with 19 points and nine rebounds vs. Michigan State in the national semifinals...Shared the team scoring lead with 12 points and pulled down a team-high eight rebounds vs. Duke in the 2010 national championship game.
2009-10 SEASON All-American third-team and All-NCAA Tournament first-team selection by The NBA Draft Report?Listed as the most underrated small forward prospect in the 2010 draft by that scouting information service?Named Horizon League Player of the Year and was a first- team All-Horizon League choice for the second straight year...Selected third-team on the 2009-10 ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-American Team...Chosen to the 2010 Speedway Horizon League Men's basketball Championship All-Tournament Team...Named to the USBWA All-District V team and was a first-team pick on the NABC All-District XII squad?Chosen as the Most Outstanding Player of the West Regional...Named Horizon League Player of the Week and USBWA Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week following Butler's games vs. Georgetown and Ohio State...Chosen Horizon League Player of the Week following Butler's victory over Xavier...Member of The Sporting News Mid-season Mid-Major All-American team...Selected Horizon League Player of the Week after Butler's consecutive wins over Loyola, Youngstown State and Cleveland State...Chosen to the Academic All-District V team...One of 30 finalists for the Naismith Trophy...Started all 37 games for the Bulldogs, seeing his string of 61 consecutive starts snapped when he missed Butler's game at Valparaiso with lower back pain...Led the Bulldogs and ranked in the top five in the Horizon League in scoring and rebounding...Topped the Horizon League in double-doubles with 12...Scored 572 points (15.5 per game) on 173-of-373 field goals (46.4 percent), 47-of-160 treys (29.4 percent) and 179-of-216 free throws (82.95)?His 179 successful free throws rank fifth on the school season-record list and his team-best 305 rebounds (8.2 per game) rank sixth in the Butler annual record book?Handed out 62 assists and led the squad with 30 blocked shots?Also came up with 40 steals?Scored in double figures 32 times and had at least 10 rebounds in 12 contests, including a string five consecutive games (from 2/11-to-3/06).
CAREER NOTES Hayward appeared in 69 games at Butler, scoring 992 points (14.4 points per game)?Made 47.0 percent of his field goals (298-of-634), shooting 36.9 percent from three-point range (47-of-116)?Hit on 82.4 percent of his free throws (280-of-340), as that percentage rank 10th on the school career-record list?His 179 successful free throws in 2009-10 placed fifth on Butler's season-record chart?Averaged 7.4 rebounds per game (512), as his 305 boards as a sophomore were the sixth-best season total by a Bulldog in school annals?Credited with 125 assists (1.8 assists per game), 88 steals (1.3 steals per game) and 60 blocked shots (0.9 blocks per game)?Holds the school career-record with 15 double-double performances?Scored in double figures 52 times, ranking second behind Matt Howard (71) on the Butler all-time record chart?Had at least 10 rebounds in 16 contests, which is also a school record.
HIGH SCHOOL Attended Brownsburg (Ind.) High School, lettering three times in basketball for head coach Joshua Kendrick?Earned first-team All-State honors and was named Indianapolis Star Player of the Year?The team captain and All-Conference player, he was named Academic All-State, as he also averaged 18.0 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists, while helping Brownsburg to a 22-5 record and the Indiana Class 4A state championship?In his final campaign, Hayward hit 44 three-point field goals in 2007-08?Posted a high game of 30 points vs. Westfield and had a career-best 19 rebounds vs. North Central?Hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer to lead Brownsburg past Marion, 40-39, in the state title game? Received the Arthur L. Trester Award, presented to the outstanding senior participant in each classification, based on excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability, at the 4A state finals?Averaged 13.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists for a 14-9 Brownsburg team as a junior?Finished his school career with 929 points and ranks in the top five at Brownsburg in career rebounds (398), career assists (198) and career steals (176), as he helped the team to a 48-25 record over three varsity seasons? Was chosen to the Indiana All-Star Team for the annual summer Indiana-Kentucky All-Star series?Totaled 11 points, eight rebounds and three steals to help lead Indiana past Kentucky at Conseco Fieldhouse?Also scored six points and grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds in the second Indiana-Kentucky All-Star Game.
OTHER TOURNAMENTS/TEAMS SUMMER LEAGUE Finished second on the 2009 gold medal-winning U. S. Under-19 World Championship Team in rebounding (5.7) and third in scoring (10.0) during the summer...Named to the Best of the Best Team at the U19 World Championship in New Zealand...Shared the team scoring lead with 48 points on Butler's 2009 four-game summer tour of Italy.
PERSONAL Computer Engineering major, earning Academic All-American honors (3.31 grade point average?Twin sister, Heather, is a standout tennis player at Butler?Born Gordon D. Hayward on 3/23/90?Resides in Brownsburg, Indiana.
SCOUTING REPORT Positives: Has a lanky frame with just adequate wingspan, but shows good leaping ability (34 1/2-inch vertical jump), a decent standing vertical reach (11-5 1/2) and minimal body fat (6.5 percent)?Has good court quickness (3.22 three-quarters-court sprint)?Even though he lacks great strength or aggression, he draws contact and wants to be at the foul line (82.4 percent shooter from the charity stripe)?Versatile wing who won't outmuscle even the smallest of guards, but has slippery moves and good concept for angling and timing when trying to come up with the rebound (averaged 8.2 boards per game last year)?Versatile player who might lack lateral quickness, but won't bite on hesitation moves or pump fakes when trying to stay in front of the shooter?Shows good timing and hand placement to disrupt the shooter in the passing lane (88 steals in 69 games)?While not powerful, he has the skills and versatility to defend vs. multiple positions?Lacks the size, strength or length to be a power forward, but is quick enough and shows good stamina to run the court at the three-forward spot?His ball-handling skills can also earn him a few minutes as a point forward (1.8 assists per game)?Effective mid-range shooter who has a nice, all-around game (scored in double figures 32 times and had at least 10 rebounds in 12 contests, including a string five consecutive games last year)?Has a smooth release and is quick enough to play shooting guard, with improved perimeter range needed to compete at the NBA level?Decent passer with good court vision and a natural feel for the half-court game?Has a smooth and quick release shooting from long range?Lacks power to park under the rim, even when defended by smaller wing players, but has the ability to slip past the defense with an array of fakes?Has the quick first step and slashing ability to get into the lane but must improve his core strength to challenge when defenders face up to him? When he gets a burst of speed, it is tough for smaller defenders to keep him out of the lane?Doesn't have the bulk to battle centers or power forwards, but when he's forced out of the paint, he has enough of a mid-range shot to force the opponent to come out and defend him at the perimeter, or he will sink shot after shot?Gets good elevation on layups, jump shots and floaters and shows good body-adjustment skills when driving to the baseline to generate a crowd-pleasing reverse off the glass?Draws contact with the ball to get him to the free throw line, but is the type of player that is much more comfortable when he gets a lot of space to get off a jump shot?Savvy player who makes a determined effort when facing his opponent to take the man off the dribble?Has good flexibility battling for loose balls and his size creates mismatches defended by smaller guards or small forwards?Has developed a quick and high release and uses his elevation well to get the ball over taller defenders in the lane?Has natural hands when playing under the rim?Uses the backboard well as a weapon, especially on reverse lay-ups?Moves well without the ball and while he lacks blazing speed, he can move up and down the court on the fast break.
Negatives: Lacks lateral range and needs to improve his core strength -- gets outmuscled often in the paint and needs to take better angles to be effective going for the rebound?Generally a good shooter with a quick release and good elevation shooting from the perimeter, but did regress a bit from three-point range last season (shot 44.8% as a freshman, but just 29.4% as a sophomore)?Lacks the great wingspan you look for in a wing player (6-7 3/4), and is slow to redirect when moving laterally?Has good passing ability (125 assists), but needs a tighter handle on the ball, as guards were able to pick and poke at the ball because of a loose dribble?Will all but disappear when challenged in the paint, lacking the aggression needed to bang the boards vs. more physical opponents?Does not have a strong post game, which will lead to NBA teams not having to account for him much on the court?Best when getting separation to execute his shot, but struggles to get attempts off with a defender in his face?Struggles to score when coming off the dribble and does not have the core strength to muscle his way to the rim, especially vs. NBA-caliber defenders?Has enough speed to move up and down the court, but his hip stiffness prevents him from mirroring when defending vs. slashers?Some teams are concerned about him finding his inner bulldog when challenged by upper-echelon defenders.
Compares To: MIKE DUNLEAVY, Jr., Indiana -- Hayward is not going to be a power forward at the next level, lacking bulk, strength ? but what has concerned several NBA scouts is a lack of aggression. He is an ideal wing player whose mid-range game will force defenders to come out of the paint to cover him, but without good lateral quickness, he will have problems defending vs. smaller and quick opponents. He can become too reliant on his jump shot, evident by his ill-advised perimeter shooting that saw his three-point success drop from 44.8% as a freshman to 29.4% last year. Because of his height and good elevation on jumpers, his shot is difficult to defend. He is developing into a decent passer, but needs to play with a tighter handle on the ball to prevent costly turnovers. The Clippers (eighth overall pick) seem to be enamored with Hayward's soft touch and might gamble that he can be the second scoring option next to Blake Griffin in the frontcourt.
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