Kiwi Gardner has decided to transfer from Manteca, Calif., to Westwind Prep in Phoenix, Ariz., in an effort to garner more attention but to also solidify his academics so his recruitment will pick up even more.

"I know he's been getting a lot of interest lately but he just has to get his grades up a little bit," said AAU coach Derrick Artis of the Drew Gooden Soldiers. "It all kind of hinges on his grades this year."

Whether Gardner, a cat-quick 5-foot-7 point guard, will need a fifth year is unknown at this time, Artis said, but there's no question he helped himself on the spring and summer AAU circuit.

Murray State, Old Dominion and San Francisco have already offered Gardner, who should pick up even more looks as long as he has his academics in order. He's an exciting point guard who knows when to score himself and when to distribute the ball plus Gardner is an intense defender.

"He's tough, he's obviously electric with the ball and this was his first year really being on the national stage and I think he had a good summer," Artis said. "He played well at every venue, at every event, so he had a pretty good breakout year.

"He has Pac-10 interest. I'm not sure if he's going to do a fifth year, this is his senior year, I'm not sure if he's doing a fifth year or if this will be it or if he'll need another year."

Early in the summer, Gardner said Washington was his favorite school and if the Huskies offered they'd clearly have the edge in his recruitment. He likes the way coach Lorenzo Romar uses point guard Isaiah Thomas.

Gardner was one of the top players on the loaded Drew Gooden Soldiers team that also features Josiah Turner, Jabari Brown, Nick Johnson, Kyle Wiltjer, Brandon Ashley and others. Now he's hoping the exposure he received can carry over into some offers this season.