Staff Report

PROCTORVILLE — Gunner is the perfect name for a shooter in basketball. Gunner Short has lived up to his name and that makes him a perfect fit for the Rio Grande RedStorm.
The Fairland Dragons’ 6-foot-4 senior forward completed his verbal commitment of two years ago by officially signing with the University of Rio Grande on Monday to give RedStorm Coach Ken French the shooter that he coveted.
Short averaged 15.7 points a game last season as Fairland went 25-2 and earned a trip to the Division III state semifinals at Ohio State University’s Schottenstein Center.
He also average 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.
“He’s going to come in and play the win. He’s a shooter, but he can do more. As a freshman that’s what his role will be and as he gets older and matures he’ll become more of a complete player.”
French begins his 11th season as the school’s head coach and he said tracking Short has been easy since he not only plays in the area but has attended RedStorm basketball camps. Short’s verbal as a sophomore was the earliest a player has ever committed to the program.
“He comes into our program familiar with me and what we do. He’s spent so much time around us. He’ll be good for us and we’ll be good for him. He’ll be able to make the adjustment as a freshman quicker than other freshmen because of being around our program,” said French.
Short said the communication lines between him and French kept him committed to his word.
“They communicated with me. I told them that I verbally committed and they’d say, ‘but you haven’t signed yet, right?’ I told them I appreciated their interest but I was totally committed to Rio Grande,” said Short.
“I’ve been going to camp there since I was nine. It’s a great place. Coach French is close with my family and it felt like home. It’s close to home so my family can see me play. I just love everything about it.”
Fairland Dragons’ head coach Nathan Speed said his four-year starter has earned his scholarship and that Short has the tools to do well at the next level.
“I’m really proud of him. All his hard work has paid off and Rio Grande is a good fit for him,” said Speed. “He’s a good defensive player, he can score and he keeps getting better.”
Short said that getting his future secured will help him focus strictly on the upcoming season. The Dragons return their entire team from last season.
“I expect us to do the same thing as last season, but this time to win the state,” said Short. “Last year we made it and that was great, but this year we want to win it.”