Gym rats
Mitty head coach Tim Kennedy gives instructions to Gordon during the Open Division state championship game against Mater Dei at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento.
Photo by Todd Shurtleff
Kennedy smiled broadly when he mentioned Gordon's work ethic. In fact, he smiled more when talking about work ethic than talking about seeing any of Gordon's monstrous dunks that have been featured on ESPN's Top 10 Plays, or any high-flying plays that have experts comparing him to a young Blake Griffin.
A former starting shooting guard at Loyola Marymount and record-breaking 3-point shooting star overseas, Kennedy was smitten with Gordon's gym-rat nature because he was born with the same affliction. Kennedy's first season as head coach coincided with Gordon's arrival as a freshman. It was perfect timing.
"We're both gym rats," Kennedy said. "That's how we first bonded. We've been through a lot of wars together."
Not only separately as coach and player, but also as combatants, battling head-to-head on the court.
At 6-5 and 220, the 1995 graduate of nearby Serra High was big enough and certainly seasoned enough to teach the young lad a thing or two. Not that Aaron hadn't been schooled and taught enough in his young life.
He's the youngest of three and besides having to shoot over and compete with live-wire Drew, who starred at UCLA and New Mexico and now plays overseas in Serbia, Aaron also had to deal with his big sister Elisabeth Gordon, a 6-1 junior post currently at Harvard. Because of them, he knew by the age of 5 he wanted to be a basketball star.
"He was always the little guy in the back yard," said Gordon's mother Shelly Davis. "And he was always active. He saw what was going on with his brother and sister and wanted to be a part of it."
Being the smallest, he learned guard skills and in early youth leagues played point guard. That served him well as he grew into his long and lean frame. By the time he got to Kennedy, he was already skilled and athletically considered a "freak." His highlight films were filled with impressive and resounding dunks, even as a 14-year-old playing against kids three and four years his senior.
Gordon displays the championship trophy following
Mitty's win in the Division II state title game last season.
File photo by David Steutel
But Kennedy, who averaged around 20 points per game his final two seasons at Serra, took him to the next level by playing endless games of one-on-one to 11 points. The contests would go well into the night, even after Mitty games.
Kennedy said Gordon didn't beat him until some time late in his junior season.
"First off, I waited until he was nice and tired after practice or games," Kennedy said with a twinkle in his eye. "When he was young, he didn't know how to move defensively. I was able to show him angles. Back then he wasn't quite as long as he is now, so I could get my shot off.
"(Beating) him would always (tee) him off. He's such a competitive kid. He'd always want to play again."
And Kennedy always would. Besides sharing the love and skill for the game, both shared the same temperament. Easy going and very personable on the outside — a wildfire burning on the inside.
"Coach understands me," Gordon said. "We speak the same language. He's helped me in every facet and I can't thank him enough."
Said Davis: "He was just the perfect fit for Aaron's temperament and personality. Tim challenged him in so many areas. That's why he's gotten so much better."
It also helped to grow 3 inches and gain 20-30 pounds of muscle. Kennedy, who played professionally for four years in Portugal and two in Spain, knew it was a matter of time before Gordon would beat him. Kennedy has three children younger than the age of 4. Sleep and top-end fitness haven't been his priority.
Not that it would matter.
"Once he was able to get his shot off and better at getting to the basket, he was pretty much unstoppable," Kennedy said. "That's about the time we started curtailing the games."
Finally beating Kennedy was one thing for Gordon. Winning back-to-back state crowns was another. But beating Mater Dei to finish his prep career with a third-straight title was all Gordon had on his mind this week.
Not his legacy. Not his college choices. Not any of his personal records or achievements. This would be the ultimate finish.
"Perfect," Gordon said. "This is the perfect ending. I couldn't imagine it any other way. After this game, there won't be any questions."
