The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Photo by: Gus Stark
UAB Adds LSU Transfer Eric Gaines to Roster
4/12/2022 1:05:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM – UAB head men's basketball coach Andy Kennedy has announced the addition of Power Five transfer Eric Gaines to the roster. Gaines, a standout guard at LSU the past two seasons, joins Ledarrius and Ty Brewer as the three student-athletes Kennedy has added to the 2022-23 UAB men's basketball roster.
Gaines, a 6-2 guard from Lithonia, Georgia, played in all 34 games for LSU this past season, averaging 9.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.1 steals per game as a sophomore. The second-year guard reached double figures 14 times, including five straight games against Power Five opponents Tennessee, Texas A&M, TCU, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt.
The former LSU Tiger ranked tied for 12th nationally with 70 total steals in 2021-22, ranking 28th nationally with 2.06 steals per game. Gaines also shot 79.3% from the free-throw line this past season, sinking 96-of-121 shots from the charity stripe.
"We are excited to have Eric (@EricDaGoat on Twitter) join our program," Kennedy said. "He will bring elite athleticism, play-making ability and game-changing defense to our backcourt.
"His ability to make plays on both sides of the ball will immediately impact Blazer Basketball!"
Gaines played in all 29 games his freshman year at LSU, making his first-collegiate start against Nicholls State. He also has played in all three of LSU's NCAA Tournament games the past two seasons, helping lead the Tigers to a 76-61 win over St. Bonaventure in the Round of 64 on March 20, 2021.
In high school, 247sports.com tabbed Gaines as a four-star recruit and the No. 88 player in the nation. He averaged 18.6 points, 4.0 assists and 2.7 steals for Lithonia High School as a senior, making 56% of his field goal attempts. The Atlanta Journal Constitution named Gaines the All-Metro DeKalb County Player of the Year as a senior.
Gaines signing with the Blazers marks Kennedy's fifth Power Five transfer landed since taking over the UAB men's basketball program in March 2020. Kennedy signed student-athletes from Clemson (Trey Jemison), KJ Buffen (Ole Miss), Jamal Johnson (Auburn) and Josh LeBlanc, Sr. (LSU) through the transfer portal before the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.
MEN'S BASKETBALL TICKET INFORMATION
As the UAB men's basketball program celebrates a historic 2021-22 season, the UAB Department of Athletics has announced an early purchase incentive for Blazer fans and the Birmingham community to lock in their season tickets for the 2022-23 men's basketball season.
Fans who commit to their season tickets by April 30 will receive a commemorative Conference USA Champions banner as a token of appreciation for their support. The commemorative banner features a customized Conference USA Championship logo, and each season-ticket account that purchases by the end of April will receive this exclusive gift leading into the upcoming men's basketball season.
UAB men's basketball season-ticket packages for the 2022-23 season are on sale now and start for as low as $110 in Blaze's Corner. The public season-ticket price is set at $275, while season tickets for UAB employees and alumni are available for $245 per seat. Scholarship seating is also available, and fans can also request more information by clicking here.
Gaines, a 6-2 guard from Lithonia, Georgia, played in all 34 games for LSU this past season, averaging 9.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.1 steals per game as a sophomore. The second-year guard reached double figures 14 times, including five straight games against Power Five opponents Tennessee, Texas A&M, TCU, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt.
The former LSU Tiger ranked tied for 12th nationally with 70 total steals in 2021-22, ranking 28th nationally with 2.06 steals per game. Gaines also shot 79.3% from the free-throw line this past season, sinking 96-of-121 shots from the charity stripe.
"We are excited to have Eric (@EricDaGoat on Twitter) join our program," Kennedy said. "He will bring elite athleticism, play-making ability and game-changing defense to our backcourt.
"His ability to make plays on both sides of the ball will immediately impact Blazer Basketball!"
Gaines played in all 29 games his freshman year at LSU, making his first-collegiate start against Nicholls State. He also has played in all three of LSU's NCAA Tournament games the past two seasons, helping lead the Tigers to a 76-61 win over St. Bonaventure in the Round of 64 on March 20, 2021.
In high school, 247sports.com tabbed Gaines as a four-star recruit and the No. 88 player in the nation. He averaged 18.6 points, 4.0 assists and 2.7 steals for Lithonia High School as a senior, making 56% of his field goal attempts. The Atlanta Journal Constitution named Gaines the All-Metro DeKalb County Player of the Year as a senior.
Gaines signing with the Blazers marks Kennedy's fifth Power Five transfer landed since taking over the UAB men's basketball program in March 2020. Kennedy signed student-athletes from Clemson (Trey Jemison), KJ Buffen (Ole Miss), Jamal Johnson (Auburn) and Josh LeBlanc, Sr. (LSU) through the transfer portal before the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.
MEN'S BASKETBALL TICKET INFORMATION
As the UAB men's basketball program celebrates a historic 2021-22 season, the UAB Department of Athletics has announced an early purchase incentive for Blazer fans and the Birmingham community to lock in their season tickets for the 2022-23 men's basketball season.
Fans who commit to their season tickets by April 30 will receive a commemorative Conference USA Champions banner as a token of appreciation for their support. The commemorative banner features a customized Conference USA Championship logo, and each season-ticket account that purchases by the end of April will receive this exclusive gift leading into the upcoming men's basketball season.
UAB men's basketball season-ticket packages for the 2022-23 season are on sale now and start for as low as $110 in Blaze's Corner. The public season-ticket price is set at $275, while season tickets for UAB employees and alumni are available for $245 per seat. Scholarship seating is also available, and fans can also request more information by clicking here.
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