Gonzaga Notes

It is no surprise to anyone that 7-1 freshman Chet Holmgren, a potential #1 or #2 pick, has declared for the draft, and will not return to GU.

Andrew Nembhard applied for the NBA draft. It's apparently his 3rd time, and means he has no option to return to GU.

up7587 wrote:Andrew Nembhard applied for the NBA draft.  It's apparently his 3rd time, and means he has no option to return to GU.

Usually after the moves we've seen at GU you'd be inclined to call next year a "rebuild" year, but just like at St. Mary's, that just never seems to be the case at GU.

DoubleDipper wrote:It is no surprise to anyone that 7-1 freshman Chet Holmgren, a potential #1 or #2 pick, has declared for the draft, and will not return to GU.

Great talent. He’s not ready to bang in the pros.

Geezaldinho wrote:

DoubleDipper wrote:It is no surprise to anyone that 7-1 freshman Chet Holmgren, a potential #1 or #2 pick, has declared for the draft, and will not return to GU.

Great talent. He’s not ready to bang in the pros.

It has been said from the beginning that Holmgren would be great in college but too skinny for the NBA.

I doubt he'll ever develop his body to be a banger, but he has very rare shooting and passing skills for a 7-footer. I think he'll be fine, and we will find out soon whether the NBA GMs feel the same way.

Regardless, Holmgren's pay of at least $25 million over three years will certainly ease the pain of not finishing his Jesuit education in Spokane.

Same things were said about Kevin Durant... Chet is not Kevin Durant but about as similar a comparison as I can make.

Former Iowa St., Penn St., and current Bulldog, Rasir Bolton, has declared for the NBA draft.

Rasir, a 6-3 point guard, started all of GU's 32 games this past season and had 1-year of eligibility remaining.

GU picks up a transfer big man from LSU, Efton Reid. Played one year at LSU, appeared in 34 games as a freshman. 6'11", 238# per LSU roster on ESPN (VerbalCommits says 7'0", 245#, 5*).

up7587 wrote:https://www.slipperstillfits.com/2022/4/7/23015713/nba-draft-2022-drew-timme-gonzaga

Drew Timme declares for the NBA Draft
He has hired a NCAA approved agent, so theoretically could still return for his senior season.

Drew Timme has obviously been the "straw that stirs the drink" at GU in recent years, but I am just not sure how well his great college game will translate to the NBA.

At 6-foot-10, 235 pounds with a reported 7-foot wingspan, Timme has the size to defend the bigs, but IMO he lacks the agility and leaping ability it takes to prevent NBA-level athletes from scoring around the rim, and he would at best, be drafted in the bottom half of the second round.

Players selected in the bottom half of the second round sometimes show a willingness to sign a two-way contract before the draft, and then net around $460,000. Other second-rounders often sign minimum-salary standard contracts, which are around $925,000 in base salary.

It might be for that reason I am hearing Timme will return to GU where he reportedly makes in the neighborhood of $1,000,000 per season in name/image/likeness (NIL) money from the Spokane area merchants where it seems he is always showing up in TV ads.

NIL certainly brings a whole new element into recruiting, especially when it comes to players in the portal, players like LSU star Efton Reid, GU's recent signee who could be Timme's backup next season.

EDIT: I was assured today by someone more knowledgeable than me, that Timme makes closer to $700,000 in NIL money, and that he is leaning toward going to the NBA regardless of his draft position.  

IMO, that is the right thing to do financially...sign a base salary before you're potentially injured and drop further in the draft chart.

Intestesting news from Zag graduation festivities.

Gonzaga awarded WCC commissioner Gloria Nevarez an honorary doctorate.

. https://www.gonzaga.edu/news-events/stories/2022/4/29/2022-honorary-degree-recipients?utm_source=Gonzaga+University+Email+Marketing+Platform&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Seven+Receive+Honorary+Degrees&utm_content=Traditional+Commencement+Returns,+Honors+Awarded,+New+Provost+Chosen&utm_campaign=FY22+-+Gonzaga+Newsletter+May+2022


I guess it was for services rendered.

Maybe if we awarded her one she would make other teams play us.

Universities give out honorary doctorates like they’re Halloween candy. It waters down the magnitude of the effort it takes to actually earn one. There I said it.

DoubleDipper wrote:Former Iowa St., Penn St., and current Bulldog, Rasir Bolton, has declared for the NBA draft.

Rasir, a 6-3 point guard, started all of GU's 32 games this past season and had 1-year of eligibility remaining.

Very big news for the Zags, Bolton has withdrawn his name from the NBA draft and will return to GU for his final year.

In a move that should guarantee GU's hold on first place in the WCC, Julian Strawther has decided to withdraw from the NBA Draft and return to Spokane.

At 6’7, with a fearless attack, and some serious length, Strawther has a lot of the intangibles that translate pretty easily to the NBA...

He averaged 11.8 points and 5.4 rebounds as a sophomore. He scored 20 points in a loss to Duke last season and 20 points again against BYU at home. He was one of the Zags more consistent three point threats, hitting 36.5 percent from long range.

Sound Voltex wrote:

With Timme back to join the proven Anton Watson and the strong potential of LSU transfer Efton Reid and Ben Gregg and Kaden Perry, and with both Rasir Bolton and Julian Strawther returning to Gonzaga, the Zags now boast one of the deepest lineups the team has had in years.

GU adds another transfer, 6'4" guard Malachi Smith from Chattanooga. Has two years left to play. Scored 20 ppg last year, averaging 35 min/game.

Are there enough minutes and basketballs to go around for all the Zag players? Or will someone transfer out?

up7587 wrote:GU adds another transfer, 6'4" guard Malachi Smith from Chattanooga.  Has two years left to play.  Scored 20 ppg last year, averaging 35 min/game.  

Smith is the reigning Southern Conference Player of the Year and was considered one of the best remaining players in the transfer portal.

Smith is a smart, tough-minded defensive player, who rarely makes mistakes. He committed just 1.4 fouls per 40 minutes last season, the 24th-lowest mark in college hoops last season.

All of a sudden, it's crowded in Spokane, but it is probably the most balanced depth GU has had since the 2017 team.

Is there room in Spokane for the highly prized recruit from Spain, Baba Miller?

Miller, a 6-10 power forward from Real Madrid Baloncesto, and considered by many to be the next big Spanish star of the future, has narrowed his choices to Florida St. and Gonzaga.

Geographically, that's interesting final two.  

Seems like some schools never run out of scholarships...

Says he will announce his decision on Monday after visiting GU earlier this week.

DoubleDipper wrote:Is there room in Spokane for the highly prized recruit from Spain, Baba Miller?

Miller, a 6-10 power forward from Real Madrid Baloncesto, and considered by many to be the next big Spanish star of the future, has narrowed his choices to Florida St. and Gonzaga.

Geographically, that's interesting final two.  

Seems like some schools never run out of scholarships...

Says he will announce his decision on Monday after visiting GU earlier this week.

If he comes, perhaps someone with "voluntarily" give up his scholarship and walk on. Some of their young players might transfer, but it is too late to avoid sitting out a year now.

While looking at the number of high-power and high-profile recruits going to Gonzaga, and to a similar extent BYU, I cannot but think how important NIL benefits have become in recruiting.

Sure, GU and BYU have been attracting top recruits for some time now, but the NIL inducements now have players spurning their chances at the NBA to stay in college.

GU and BYU are the only WCC schools to have chartered jets at their disposal for recruiting and team travel...and now it would seem the rich get richer.

https://news.yahoo.com/endorsements-have-changed-college-sports-is-it-for-the-better-191836687.html?guccounter=1

up7587 wrote:

DoubleDipper wrote:Is there room in Spokane for the highly prized recruit from Spain, Baba Miller?

If he comes, perhaps someone with "voluntarily" give up his scholarship and walk on.  Some of their young players might transfer, but it is too late to avoid sitting out a year now.  

No "extra" scholarship magically appeared, and Miller is off to Florida State.

They're going to do it!!

On Veterans Day....

The Michigan St. and Gonzaga players may have to avoid tripping over a few arresting cables (called wires by Navy pilots), but they are going to play an afternoon game on the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/gonzaga-michigan-state-to-play-on-aircraft-carrier-off-coast-of-san-diego-for-veterans-day-2022/

No Maverick and no music here, just real Americans going about their business:

DoubleDipper wrote:No Maverick and no music here, just real Americans going about their business:

So, in real life carrier ops there is very little drama and no music blasting away?  

Kentucky and GU have a home and home agreement.  Well, sort of.  The Spokane game will not be played in the Kennel, rather in the Spokane Arena.  13K seats instead of 6K.

@UKCoachCalipari wrote:I’m excited about playing Gonzaga. I’m disappointed that we have to go there first, but to make it happen I was willing to do that. Playing in front of 13K crazy fans in Spokane Arena will be exciting just like it will be in front of 22K fans in Rupp next year.

I imagine there will be some #BBN and some Gonzaga fans too who will sneak in the game this year because there’s more seats!

Anybody that wants us to play in a 6,000-seat facility, wants us to lose! And I get that. I tried to look back and find the last time UK played in a true regular-season road game with 6,000 or fewer fans. I stopped looking after the 70s.

Note: I believe #BBN refers to Kentucky basketball nation.  There were certainly a lot of UK fans present when they played the Pilots in the Rose Garden.  Wonder what the split will be UK vs GU fans in the Spokane Arena?  Lots of GU fans can't get tickets in the Kennel.

Chet Holmgren will miss his entire rookie pro season due to a foot injury incurred in an exhibition game.

https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2022/8/25/23321524/chet-holmgren-injury-pro-am-crawsover-lisfranc-foot-video