Steele Venters: The Ultimate Gonzaga X-Factor Next Season
Venters hasn't appeared in a live college game since March 19, 2023, an eternity in a sport where rhythm and confidence mean everything. The 6-foot-7 wing missed the entire 2023-24 season with a torn ACL, then worked tirelessly to return for 2024-25, only to suffer another cruel blow: a torn Achilles tendon. For most players, back-to-back season-ending injuries would be career-altering, if not career-ending. But for Venters, they've become fuel.
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Before these injuries, Venters was one of the most lethal perimeter threats in the country. At Eastern Washington, he averaged over 16 points per game, knocking down nearly 44% of his three-point attempts. His silky shooting stroke and high basketball IQ earned him Big Sky Player of the Year honors and put him on the national radar as a mid-major star ready to make the leap.
As he finally eyes a return to the court, Gonzaga won't ask him to carry the load. Mark Few and the coaching staff are well-stocked with capable scorers and versatile starters. The quartet of Jalen Warley, Adam Miller, Emmanuel Innocenti, and Braden Huff offers the talent and positional flexibility to more than likely fill the 2, 3, and 4 positions, in some combination, in Gonzaga's starting lineup. Gonzaga doesn't need Venters to be a starter.
But what Gonzaga does need is a spark, a veteran presence who can come off the bench, stretch the floor, and change the dynamic of a game in spurts. If Venters can give the Bulldogs just 15-plus quality minutes per night and recapture even a portion of his peak form, he could swing the balance of power in marquee matchups and deep tournament runs.
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Venters' value isn't limited to his offensive output. His size and length allow him to switch defensively and contest shots on the perimeter, making him a valuable piece in the Zags' rotational schemes. His maturity and perseverance, forged through two grueling rehabs, give Gonzaga yet another locker room leader.
No, Gonzaga isn't banking on Venters to be a star this season, but that's precisely what makes him such an X-factor. He doesn't need to average double figures or start games. He needs to be healthy enough to get hot on the right night, hit a couple of timely threes, and provide a veteran presence when the stakes are highest.
For a program with championship ambitions, unexpected contributions often make the difference in March. And if Steele Venters is back, really back, then Gonzaga might have the missing piece that puts them over the top.
Related: Win the Day: The Fitting Mantra of Gonzaga's Next Point Guard Braeden Smith
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