It’s Official: Dutchess County Graduate Headed to the NBA

The Hudson Valley now has another professional athlete to call their own: a Marist College graduate has just signed a deal with the NBA.

There are more than a few professional athletes with ties to our corner of New York, especially Dutchess County. Joe Panik, who grew up in Fishkill, NY and went to John Jay High School, had an impressive career in professional baseball, and Men's World Cup Soccer Team captain Tyler Adams hails from Wappingers Falls, NY. Not many, however, have made it to the NBA.

Marist College Graduate Headed to the NBA

Patrick Gardner, a recent Marist College graduate who originally hails from Long Island, is just the latest Dutchess County athlete to sign a professional sports contract. Marist College recently reported that after participating in the Summer League with the Miami Heat (below), the 6'11" center has signed a contract with the Brooklyn Nets to attend their training camp.

Patrick Gardner Signs Contract with Brooklyn Nets

While Gardner only played one year at Marist, his performance in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) tournament certainly helped his stock rise. Despite the team's losing record in the regular season, the starting center helped Marist reach the MAAC tournament final in 2023, the first final appearance ever for the school. Gardner also averaged nearly averaged 20 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists over the entire season.

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Patrick Gardner Headed to the FIBA World Cup

Before arriving at the Brooklyn Nets training camp, Gardner has other plans. His family's Egyptian heritage means he will play for the Egyptian national basketball team in the FIBA World Cup next month. His first game will be against Lithuania on August 25th.