NewsOK member benefits

OSU basketball: Point guard Kirby Gardner signs with Cowboys

The Oklahoma State basketball team has added depth to its most questionable position. Junior college point guard Kirby Gardner signed with the Cowboys on Saturday afternoon, becoming the fourth commit of the 2012 class.

BY ANTHONY SLATER | Published: June 17, 2012 Comment on this article

The Oklahoma State basketball team has added depth to its most questionable position.

Junior college point guard Kirby Gardner signed with the Cowboys on Saturday afternoon, becoming the fourth commit of the 2012 class. His signing was first reported by PrecinctReporter.com.

Gardner played at San Bernardino Valley College in California last season, averaging 17.2 points per game, shooting 86 percent from the free-throw line and winning the Foothill Conference MVP.

Gardner provides depth at both guard positions, but will be especially valuable at point guard.

With the departure of Keiton Page, a true shooting guard who started at point last season, the Cowboys have been searching for help at the position.

Junior Markel Brown, sophomore Cezar Guerrero and incoming freshman Marcus Smart are all expected to see time at the point. As recently as last month, coach Travis Ford said he didn't need to add another player, but would if the right one came along.

Gardner, an unranked prospect whose commitment to OSU was a slight surprise, joins an impressive class that includes Smart, the five-star crown jewel of the group, Phil Forte and Kamari Murphy.