Good news week

There was some good news that we heard last week if you happen to be a Zag fan. Three starters are returning to Spokane to play for the 2022-23 Bulldog team. Yes, Rashir Bolton, Julian Strawther and Drew Timme will be wearing a Gonzaga basketball uniform again next season.

Originally all five starters declared for the NBA draft but they had until June 1st to decide if their name was going to be submitted to the draft. So they worked out with teams and talked with others and I’m sure they found out where they might be picked and who had the most interest.

For these three guys it was a great choice to return for another year. They can work on their 3-point shots and just get stronger and maybe have a few breakout games that intrigue NBA scouts.

Two other Zag starters will be entered in the draft. Point guard Andrew Nembhard and potential number 1 pick Chet Holmgren will be playing professionally next season. Where they will be playing next season will be made in a couple of weeks at the NBA draft.

I know that a lot of people think that Holmgren should come back and bulk up and get stronger and improve his 3-point shooting but when the NBA declares that you are one of the top five picks guaranteed money makes a young man think that he can always get stronger and bulk up on the NBA dime. I believe that there is no experience better than the college experience but I’m not 7’1” and able to dunk so make the most of this golden opportunity and spend your money wisely.

One thing I can honestly say is that the Bulldogs will be loaded this season with two transfers and the three returning starters. Minutes are going to be tough to come by but then with this much talent the depth is going to be unbelievable. It has been said that some of the best recruiting is maintaining the talent that is already there. These three guys are smart and know what kind of season this could be.

Bolton had transferred a couple of times before coming to Gonzaga and has really enjoyed being a part of the Spokane community and Gonzaga. Strawther had a deal for his name, image and likeness in the Spokane area as did Drew Timme. So they will be able to make a few bucks during their down time and we will most likely get to see those commercials during Gonzaga games.

So Gonzaga loses Andrew Nembhard and Chet Holmgren and pick up Southern Conference player of the year Malachi Smith a 6’4” guard from Chattanooga and Efton Reid a 7’0” post player from LSU. Both of these guys were five star recruits coming out of high school. I don’t have a crystal ball so I can’t predict how they will fit into Mark Few’s plans or rotation. But I can say that the success that he has had in the past ten years I’m sure he’ll figure it out and there will be another quality Zag team playing deep into the NCAA tournament. I’m sure the other WCC schools are thinking, “Can’t we get a break for once?”

For many of the transfers that Gonzaga has gotten over the years they have seen the player development in skill and strength. Most everyone relates the biggest change in a gangly 7 footer by the name of Kelly Olynk who red shirted after his sophomore year and after a one year training hiatus became an All-American his junior year and a first round draft pick that same year.

Malachi Smith wants to play for a Hall of Fame Coach in Mark Few. Efton Reid decided to leave LSU after his coach Will Wade was fired. I’m thinking that Reid will have a bigger role offensively than he had at LSU. He does have the ability to block shots that will be missed with the departure of Holmgren. And Reid has about 45 pounds on Chet Holmgren which is a good thing.

The coaching staff at GU will need to figure out how to make some talented players happy with playing time. Knowing this the players are going to have to impress in practice and to have quality minutes during game time. It’s a challenge but you would much rather have too much talent than not enough. So yes there has been a bit of good news lately for Zag nation.