Updated Gonzaga men’s basketball roster: Zags add experienced players via the transfer portal

Updated Gonzaga men’s basketball roster: Zags add experienced players via the transfer portal.

With high hopes for a national championship in 2024–25, the Gonzaga Bulldogs emerged from the transfer portal window after a tidal wave of player movement across collegiate basketball.

Things might change by fall because there are still some players in the portal who aren’t sure. Here is a preview of the Zags’ roster for the upcoming season. They should be among the top 10 preseason teams coming into next year.

RETURNERS:

G Ryan Nembhard (senior)
G Nolan Hickman (senior)
G/F Steele Venters (redshirt senior)
G Dusty Stromer (sophomore)
G Joe Few (senior)
F Ben Gregg (senior)
F Braden Huff (redshirt sophomore)
F Graham Ike (senior)

A group that was relatively inexperienced when they first joined forces a year ago will now be expected to hit the ground running next fall following a Sweet 16 appearance. Based on various “way-too-early” top 25 rankings and polls, some prognosticators expect the Bulldogs to be a top-five team entering November based on how much experience they’ll return from a 27-8 squad.

The Zags are expected to return 81.4% of the minutes played from last season, which is the program’s highest retention rate since the 2005-06 season when Mark Few brought back seven of his top eight scorers from a team that finished the 2004-05 campaign ranked No. 10 in the AP Top 25 poll. Considering that there was far less player movement back then than there is today, as well as the trend of one-and-dones in the 2010s, Gonzaga has certainly adjusted to the new era of college basketball.

Continuity hasn’t been the most important trait of championship-caliber teams in recent years, though it does come into play regarding the point guard position. Seven of the past 10 national champions had the same point guard in the starting lineup from the season before.

That trend bodes well for the Bulldogs, who return All-WCC guard Ryan Nembhard after a historic passing season in year one in Spokane. Nembhard broke the program’s single-season assist record while adjusting to Gonzaga’s system and his new teammates. With relatively the same cast surrounding him for his senior season, the Canadian point guard has ample opportunity to pick up where he left off last season.

brought back seven of his top eight scorers from a team that finished the 2004-05 campaign ranked No. 10 in the AP Top 25 poll. Considering that there was far less player movement back then than there is today, as well as the trend of one-and-dones in the 2010s, Gonzaga has certainly adjusted to the new era of college basketball.

Continuity hasn’t been the most important trait of championship-caliber teams in recent years, though it does come into play regarding the point guard position. Seven of the past 10 national champions had the same point guard in the starting lineup from the season before.

That trend bodes well for the Bulldogs, who return All-WCC guard Ryan Nembhard after a historic passing season in year one in Spokane. Nembhard broke the program’s single-season assist record while adjusting to Gonzaga’s system and his new teammates. With relatively the same cast surrounding him for his senior season, the Canadian point guard has ample opportunity to pick up where he left off last season in Spokane. As Nembhard got used to Gonzaga’s style and his new teammates, he shattered the program record most assists in a single season. The Canadian point guard has a lot of chances to continue where he left off from the previous season with almost the same supporting cast surrounding him in his last campaign.

Nolan Hickman, Nembhard’s backcourt companion, is free to adapt to yet another position in the attack. The 6-foot-2 guard, a seasoned senior now, just finished his finest season as a Bulldog, averaging 14.0 points and shooting 78 of 139 (41.3%) from three-point range. Once again, the native of Seattle is expected to contribute significantly as an off-ball guard next to Nembhard.

Leading a deep frontcourt with a variety of skill sets and intangibles is Graham Ike. One of the most formidable players in college basketball on the low block, the 6-foot-9 post developed a stronger relationship with Nembhard over the second half of the season. Flexed with Ben Gregg and Braden Huff’s floor spacing,

Numerous big men on the Zags can have an impact on the game.

For the Bulldogs, Gregg’s return to Spokane was significant because the 6-foot-10 forward’s enthusiasm and adaptability provided the team’s spark in the second half of the season. Gregg started for Gonzaga, which went on to win 16 of its last 19 games and rank in the top five in the nation for offensive efficiency.

Dusty Stromer has an opportunity to expand his game after contributing primarily through his hustle and energy as a freshman. Gonzaga became crowded at the wing spot all of a sudden after minimal depth at the position last season, though Stromer can still carve out a role for himself given his outside shooting and tenacity on defense.

DEPARTURES: 

F Anton Watson (graduation)
F Colby Brooks (transfer portal)
F Pavle Stosic (transfer portal)
G Luka Krajnovic (transfer portal)

Gonzaga waves goodbye to a local icon when Anton Watson graduates this spring. The Gonzaga Prep product went down as one of the program’s winningest and most unselfish players of all time, while his professional approach to the game was evidenced by his defensive versatility and high basketball IQ on the offensive end of the floor.

The 6-foot-8 forward finished his college career as the only player in program history with over 1,400 points, 700 rebounds and 200 assists. His 215 steals are second behind only John Stockton, while his 21 steals in the NCAA Tournament are the most by a Bulldogs player. Watson is also third in games played (151) and wins (132).

There’s no one-for-one replacement for a player like Watson. It’ll take a collective group effort to try to replicate what he brought on and off the court over the course of his five seasons. Perhaps the existing continuity and familiarity on the roster can help in some of the aspects that made Watson so valuable as a player. IQ on the offensive end of the floor.

The 6-foot-8 forward finished his college career as the only player in program history with over 1,400 points, 700 rebounds and 200 assists. His 215 steals are second behind only John Stockton, while his 21 steals in the NCAA Tournament are the most by a Bulldogs player. Watson is also third in games played (151) and wins (132).

There’s no one-for-one replacement for a player like Watson. It’ll take a collective group effort to try to replicate what he brought on and off the court over the course of his five seasons. Perhaps the existing continuity and familiarity on the roster can help in some of the aspects that made Watson so valuable as a player.

Luka Krajnovic and Pavle Stosic seek other opportunities elsewhere after serving limited roles as freshmen. It’s unknown if they would’ve played more minutes next season with the Zags based on how the roster has shaped out thus far in the offseason.