Beyond the X: Aaron Gordon's last stand

The long ride and look ahead
Kennedy said there were few tears in the locker room. He didn't have an emotional postgame speech prepared and was at a loss for words.

"To end with a loss when we didn't play our best is just a different feeling," he said. "I told them of course I was proud of them, just the way they competed. I thanked all the seniors for all the work they had done for the team and program and school.

"I saved the sentimental stuff for the team banquet."

The first half of the bus ride home was largely silent. "Dead silent really," Kennedy said. "By an hour, I heard some whispers. The coaching staff talked about adjustments we could have made. By the time we reached home everyone was talking."

Kennedy and Gordon talked more by the time they reached the school.

"I told him to use this as motivation," Kennedy said. "He's going to have a long and prosperous career and the only way I would be disappointed with him if he didn't let this fuel him for the future."

The destination where his future would continue was known by only a select few ahead of time: Gordon's immediate family and Kennedy. All were sworn to secrecy, as the decision had been made.

He had narrowed his choices three months ago — Kentucky, Arizona and Washington — but then according to his mother, watched an Oregon game on TV last month and opened it back up to the Ducks.

"He took them off the list prematurely," Davis said. "He watched Oregon play Kansas and picked apart everything, the personnel and how they played and decided to bring them back into the mix.

"Plus he loves (Oregon coach Dana Altman). And wow, the facilities. Incredible. Over the top."

Two months ago, Gordon broke down his other finalists this way.

"Let's start with Kentucky," he said. "It's a winning organization. Coach (John) Calipari is a winner. It's a true basketball program. The Wildcat Launch is right across the street from the gym. You can go in there 24 hours a day. It's almost like a business. If you really want to play basketball, that's the place to go.

"Arizona is a shooting program and coach (Sean) Miller is a really good shooting coach. They are losing two of their really good seniors, Kevin Parrom and Solomon Hill. It's a great place to go to school. I'd be happy there if I were to go there. Miller is a really great coach.

"Obviously (Lorenzo) Romar is a really great coach at Washington. They have a really good offense — it's a 1-4 high, almost like a John Wooden offense. They look to push in the first eight seconds. It's up-tempo but also very structured. It's also very basketball-oriented."

Gordon's detailed breakdown doesn't surprise his mother. He's a 2.9 student but could be much higher.

"He's innately our smartest child," Davis said. "Very bright. He probably could be a lawyer. But his drive is to play basketball. That's what he wants to do and when Aaron wants to do something, it almost always gets done."

Anyone watching him pogo stick up to the rim two, three times to tip in his own miss can attest to that.

"He has some awesome choices," his mother said. "He's happy with everything he went through and has carefully deliberated to make his pick. The toughest part is picking where not to go. He's made great friends with all the coaches, all of whom have spent a lot of time and money coming to see him play. That makes it very tough."

But Arizona and coach Miller were the happiest Tuesday.