Why Gonzaga's Graham Ike Could Be the Nation's Top Center in 2025–26
Graham Ike's return to Gonzaga for the 2025–26 season positions him as one of the most formidable frontcourt players in college basketball and a legitimate All-American candidate. After earning AP Honorable Mention honors and anchoring the Bulldogs' offense last season, the veteran center is now set to lead a team with championship aspirations and a deep, experienced roster.
Ike averaged 17.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in 2024–25 while shooting nearly 60% from the field, showcasing elite efficiency in the paint. A physical low-post presence with soft hands and refined footwork, Ike thrives in isolation opportunities and quick-entry post-ups, but what makes him especially dangerous heading into this season is how well he complements Gonzaga's rising star Braden Huff.
In the final three games of last season, including the NCAA Tournament, Gonzaga started both Ike and Huff together, a move that unlocked a new level of offensive efficiency. Huff's ability to stretch the floor and operate as a skilled ball screener in pick-and-roll sets allowed the Bulldogs to space the floor more creatively. In these actions, Huff often drew the attention of both defenders, while Ike worked off-ball along the baseline. When defenses collapsed on Huff's dives or pops, Ike was perfectly positioned to clean up with easy drop-offs, putbacks, or short floaters.
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Their chemistry in this two-big alignment gave opposing defenses fits. Huff's perimeter gravity pulled shot blockers away from the rim, giving Ike more room to operate in the dunker spot. That dynamic proved particularly effective against high-level competition down the stretch, suggesting that Mark Few may lean into it even more heavily in 2025–26.
Ike, now in his fifth collegiate season and third with Gonzaga, has matured into one of the most consistent interior scorers in the nation. His physicality, patience in the post, and improved help-side defense make him a well-rounded threat on both ends. With continued health, team success, and national visibility, the pathway is clear for Ike to elevate from honorable mention to consensus All-American—and potentially even to the top of the positional hierarchy among college basketball centers.
Related: Win the Day: The Fitting Mantra of Gonzaga's Next Point Guard Braeden Smith
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