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People SearchFind an individual who either played a sport or was a member of a support group. Search by last name by clicking on the first letter of the person's last name.
Mr. Chris Gradnigo
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Home Phone: -- Men’s Basketball – Gradnigo leaving; Marlin moves on Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • July 26, 2010 After playing basketball for three years at UL, Chris Gradnigo decided on Wednesday to leave the program. To the untrained eye, losing a player who was the team’s leading scorer as a freshman and sophomore and was second on the squad in scoring as a junior would be a huge hit. In this case, Gradnigo’s departure was best for the Lake Charles native and for first-year Ragin’ Cajuns coach Bob Marlin. While Gradnigo possesses some fine offensive skills, the 6-foot-7 forward never fulfilled his potential under the guidance of coach Robert Lee after turning down offers from a host of schools, including Notre Dame, Arkansas and Cincinnati. (His godfather, Rick LeBato, was an assistant for the Cajuns for the past four years but was not retained by Marlin.) Gradnigo arrived as an out-of-shape freshman three years ago and still managed to help UL win a share of the Sun Belt Conference’s West Division title. He also led the team in scoring at 9.6 points per game and shot 44.1 percent from 3-point land – good for third in school history and second that season in the Sun Belt. The problem: There were obvious issues that season between Gradnigo and then-sophomore guard/forward Elijah Millsap, the returning Sun Belt Freshman of the Year. So Millsap transferred to UAB. He sat out the 2008-09 season before earning first team Conference USA honors as a junior this past season and leaving early for the pro ranks. Gradnigo, meanwhile, improved his scoring to 13.3 points per game as a sophomore in 2008-09. He averaged 14 points this past season and made the LSWA All-Louisiana third team but still lacked consistency, struggled defensively and displayed on-the-court immaturity too often. While Gradnigo endured an up-and-down season, senior forward Tyren Johnson stole the spotlight and blossomed into the Sun Belt Player of the Year. In short, Gradnigo was an all-conference talent but never developed into an all-conference player. After this past season, Lee’s contract was not extended. Marlin took the UL job after a successful 12-year run at Sam Houston State. When asked why he decided to transfer, Gradnigo said it had “nothing” to do with Marlin or the school. He now must find a school willing to give him a scholarship this year while he sits out per NCAA transfer rules as well as for the following season. “I appreciate coach Marlin, and I think he will do a good job,” said Gradnigo, who is interested in going to Tulane, McNeese State, LSU, Texas or Louisiana Tech. “Lafayette has been good to me. I had a lot of good days here. It’s a great place and a great city. “I just feel like it is time for me to move on.” For whatever reason, Gradnigo never appeared to be fully committed to help Marlin lead the program in a new, positive direction. Rumors circulated for weeks that he was leaving prior to his final decision to transfer. Those distractions are a big reason why it was just better for Gradnigo to move on so Marlin and his coaches can focus their energy on the players fully committed to the program. “He’s got his plan, and I’m going to support him,” LeBato said. “Now it’s going to be on him to work hard wherever he goes.” The sad thing is that Marlin is the exact type of coach that Gradnigo needs to take his game to the next level and possibly become a pro player. Unlike Lee, whose coaching style in many ways stymied Gradnigo’s growth, Marlin has a proven track record of developing young players and winning games with a tough, disciplined, team-first approach. Anyone doubting that needs to be reminded that he won 225 games over his 12 years at Sam Houston. Soon after Marlin took the job in March, Gradnigo talked about putting in the work to cap his collegiate career with a breakout senior season similar to what Johnson did for the Cajuns. Gradnigo could have played some power forward in Marlin’s up-tempo system, a position that operates on the perimeter and can move into the post to expose possible mismatches against smaller defenders. It would have been an opportunity for him to be the team’s top offensive option and expand his game as a rebounder and defender under a proven head coach. Instead, Gradnigo’s career as a Cajun is over. And unless Gradnigo takes it upon himself to improve, his potential will remain unfulfilled regardless of where he goes. Now Marlin will turn to returning players such as seniors Randell Daigle and Travis Bureau and newcomers Josh Brown and David Perez to share the scoring burden next season as he tries to rebuild the program. Marlin had little to say about Gradnigo’s decision outside of a brief prepared statement, wishing him “well in his future academic and athletic endeavors.” While Marlin would have welcomed him back, he has no reason to be heart-broken. In the end, it’s an opportunity lost much more for Gradnigo than for Marlin and the Cajuns. * * * * * * * * * Men’s Basketball: Ragin’ Cajuns Hold On For 72-70 Win at UNO Behind Gradnigo’s Career-High 25 Louisiana had two 10-rebound performances Wednesday night for just the second time this season NEW ORLEANS – Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns held a 16-point lead with 5:34 remaining, but had to hang on for a two-point victory at New Orleans on Wednesday night. Louisiana (13-13, 9-6) survived by a final score of 72-70, despite missing six of nine free throw attempts in the final two minutes. The loss drops New Orleans (17-10, 7-8) into third place, two games behind the first place Cajuns. UL will finish the season with three home games � one against each of the three teams tied for second place in the Sun Belt West. Elijah Millsap made a pair from the stripe to stop New Orleans’ 13-0 run and end a Cajuns scoreless streak that spanned 3:20. The free throws gave the Cajuns a five-point lead with 2:14 remaining. Two minutes later, Millsap’s offensive rebound put the sophomore at the line, where he would make both shots, giving the Cajuns a 72-68 edge with 13.8 seconds remaining. Chris Gradnigo led the Cajuns with a career-high 25 points. Millsap had 12 points and 11 rebounds. Tyren Johnson, who swatted the ball away from the rim at the buzzer, finished with seven points and eight rebounds. After being held scoreless in the first half, McCalebb scored nine points in the first 4:11 of the second half to help UNO cut their deficit to 11 points. Millsap took over the next minute of the game. His offensive rebound and put-back preceded a block of McCalebb on the defensive end. Millsap then converted a running jumper in the lane to swing momentum toward the Cajuns. Gradnigo blocked a shot which resulted in a Courtney Wallace bucket on the other end, giving the Cajuns a 51-34 lead with 14:09 remaining. After a Privateers basket, Gradnigo buried a three-point basket to give the visitors an 18-point lead with 13:10 to play. The Cajuns then began to slow down the pace of the game. UNO couldn’t get any closer than 16 points over the next five minutes � giving the Cajuns a nice lead with under eight minutes to play. A triple by James Parlow cut the UL edge to 13 points, 67-54, with 5:23 remaining and ignited a 13-0 run. The Privateers were within just three points with 2:30 on the clock. McCalebb finished with 18 points � five below his season average � and a team-high seven rebounds. Kyndall Dykes added 14 points. The Cajuns held a 41-25 lead at the break thanks to excellent defense. UNO shot just 22.2 percent in the first half as McCalebb missed all eight shot attempts and a free throw. UNO missed its first eight shots, but the Cajuns couldn’t take more than a 5-0 lead thanks to three early turnovers. The Cajuns scored eight points on three straight possession to build a 15-4 lead. Triples by Randell Daigle and Gradnigo and a dunk by Travis Bureau resulted in the scoring. UL increased its lead as the Privateers continued to struggle. UNO started 2-for-23 from the floor, helping the Cajuns to a 28-9 edge with 6:46 to play in the first half. Once the Privateers found their shot, Louisiana had an answer nearly every time. Gradnigo had 18 first half points to carry the Cajuns offense to a 16-point lead after 20 minutes. Louisiana returns to the hardwood Saturday when the Ragin’ Cajuns host the UALR Trojans in a critical Sun Belt West Division rematch from January’s meeting in Little Rock. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. at the CAJUNDOME. LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE 72 NEW ORLEANS 70 Halftime: UL 41, UNO 25. 3-point goals–Louisiana-Lafayette 6-17 (Gradnigo, Chris 3-6; -www.RaginCajuns.com- Chris Yandle Posted February 20, 2008 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Chris Gradnigo hit the game-winning shot to give Louisiana a 68-67 win. Basketball-M 12/16/2007 Courtesy RaginCajuns.com Louisiana will face the Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors Wednesday night at the Rainbow Classic MONROE � He gave Louisiana its first lead of the game with 43 seconds left on the clock. Then, trailing by two, he delivered the game-winning shot. Freshman Chris Gradnigo’s (Lake Charles, La.) three-pointer from the left wing gave the Ragin’ Cajuns a monumental 68-67 victory over the ULM Warhawks Sunday afternoon at Fant-Ewing Coliseum. Gradnigo finished the game with 15 points, including three crucial three-point baskets. Freshman Travis Bureau (Gonzales, La.) made his long-awaited Louisiana debut, chipping in 11 points and five rebounds. La’Ryan Gary (Lafayette, La.) and Randell Daigle (Lafayette, La.) each added 12 points for the Cajuns. The win for Louisiana (2-6, 1-0 Sun Belt) snapped a six-game losing streak, while giving the Cajuns their first conference-opening victory since the 2003-04 season. ULM (4-6, 0-1 Sun Belt) lost for the first time on its home court this season. Louisiana went 9-of-14 from three-point range in the second half to help erase a nine-point halftime deficit. ULM’s Jordan Payne led all scorers with 16 points, while Lance Brasher added 13 and 10 rebounds. Louisiana and ULM exchanged three-point baskets to start the second half, but the Warhawks still maintained a nine-point edge, 33-24. After a ULM turnover, Daigle added another triple on the ensuing possession to cut the deficit to six points, 33-27. However, Afam Nweke converted a three-point play to preserve ULM’s previous nine-point lead. A turnover by Gary allowed the Warhawks to extended their lead to 12, 39-27, after a Jonas Brown three-point play. Daigle’s third trey of the second half cut the deficit to seven points, 39-32, with 17:32 remaining in regulation. After the Warhawks again took an 11-point advantage, Louisiana cut it to seven, 50-43, on a Bureau triple from the right wing. A pair of Gradnigo free throws later cut the lead to five, 50-45. A triple by Bureau with 6:14 on the clock pulled the Cajuns to within two points, 52-50. Both teams would go back-and-forth before Louisiana cut it to one, 58-57. Bureau tied the game at 60 all with a three-pointer from the left corner with 3:02 remaining in regulation. The Cajuns then forced a ULM turnover on the Warhawks’ next possession. Trailing by two points, Gradnigo drained a deep trey to give Louisiana its first lead of the game, 65-64, with 43 seconds left to play. The Warhawks responded on the ensuing possession as Rudy Turner gave the lead back to ULM with a three-point play, 67-65, with 23 seconds on the clock. Gradnigo then drained the game-winning bucket with eight seconds on the clock. ULM started the game on an 8-0 run heading into the under-16 minute media timeout at the 15:39 mark. Following the stoppage in play, Elijah Millsap (Grambling, La.) provided Louisiana with its first points of the contest on a wide-open three-pointer from the right wing, cutting the ULM lead to 8-3. Millsap’s three-pointer was his first made basket since the Tennessee game on Nov. 30, snapping a streak of 12 consecutive misses. The Warhawks added a transition basket on the ensuing possession to bring their lead back to seven points, 10-3. Louisiana would later cut the ULM lead to two points, 19-17, on a Daigle triple. Daigle has now made a three-point basket in six consecutive contests. ULM responded, closing the first half with an 11-4 run to take a 30-21 halftime lead. Neither team shot exceptionally well from the field in the first half. ULM shot 31 percent (9-of-29), while Louisiana shot 29.6 percent (8-of-27). The Warhawks out-shot the Ragin’ Cajuns from three-point range, making four triples compared to two by Louisiana. Gary led all scorers with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting along with four rebounds. ULM shut down Millsap, who was held to 1-of-8 shooting in the first half. Jordan Payne paced ULM with eight points on 2-of-8 shooting, while Lance Brasher added six points from three-point range. Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns men’s basketball team returns to action Wednesday, December 19, when it travels to Honolulu, Hawai’i to face the Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors in game two of the 44th Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic. Tip-off is set for 11:30 p.m. (CT). In addition to tuning in to SportsRadio ESPN 1420 AM with Jay Walker, fans will be able to watch all three of Louisiana’s games in Hawai’i on KLFT-TV (Cox Digital Channel 135). Wednesday’s game will feature complete production by Hawai’i’s KFVE-TV with the broadcast team of Jim Leahey (play-by-play) and Artie Wilson (color). Louisiana-ULM Game Notes Stephen Dees started at point guard for the Cajuns Sunday � his first start of the season and the third of his career. ULM (67) Halftime: ULM 30, UL 21. 3-point goals–Louisiana-Lafayette 11-27 (Daigle, Randell 4-9; Bureau, Travis 3-7; Gradnigo, Chris 3-5; Millsap, Elijah 1-4; Dees, Stephen 0-1; Dees, David 0-1), ULM 5-20 (Brasher, Lance 3-5; Averette, Kenneth 1-1; Payne, Jordan 1-5; Hooper, Tony 0-4; Brown, Jonas 0-5). A-1039. Chris Yandle
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