As a freshman at Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School in Cleveland, Ohio, he played for the junior varsity team, despite being recruited by the football coach.

He moved up to varsity in his sophomore season and won a Division III state title alongside five-star recruit Carlton Bragg Jr., though in a limited role.

[2] As a senior, Pardon averaged 12.3 points and 11 rebounds per game, while recording a school-record 101 blocks, and led his team to a second Division III state championship.

[6] On March 1, he made a game-winning layup as time expired from a full-court inbound pass to defeat Michigan, 67–65.

[3] In his junior season, he averaged 11.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game, with a school-record .619 field goal percentage, and was an honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference selection by the media.

[9] As a senior, he averaged 14 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game and was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection by the media and coaches.

[14] Pardon parted ways with Reggio Emilia two days later to undergo hand surgery in the United States.