Latest news with #Zags
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Florida State High-Upside Transfer Forward Christian Nitu Perfect Fit For Gonzaga
Mark Few and the Gonzaga Bulldogs remain on the hunt for a marquee guard to add to the roster for the 2025-26 season, with Desmond Claude and Tyon-Grant Foster the two biggest known targets at this time. However, the expectation is that the Zags will also look to add depth to the frontcourt, in particular someone who can play power forward on a roster that is currently full of more traditional centers in Graham Ike, Braden Huff, Ismaila Diagne, and incoming freshman Parker Jefferson. Advertisement One available transfer that makes a lot of sense for Gonzaga, and who the staff connected with early in the recruiting process, is Florida State forward Christian Nitu. Nitu played at Fort Erie International Academy in Toronto when the Zags first began recruiting him, and his performance with Team Canada in the U17 World Cup and participation in the Basketball Without Borders Global Camp helped solidify the 6'11 big man as a marquee prospect. On3 had him as the 39th ranked power forward and 25th ranked Canadian prospect in the 2024 class when he first signed with Indiana State, but after coach Josh Schertz left to Saint Louis Nitu reopened his recruitment and committed to Florida State. Advertisement However, a deep rotation didn't allow much room for Nitu on the floor in Tallahassee, as he finished his lone season with the 'Noles appearing in 22 games and averaging 1.9 points and 1.3 rebounds in just 6.9 minutes per game. Nitu saved his best for last, scoring a career high eight points with three rebounds and a steal on 4-4 shooting in a 60-57 loss to Virginia in the final game of the season. Nitu's upside remains intriguing, despite subpar numbers in a limited role. The tape shows an uber-athletic big man who had multiple tip-in dunks, blocked shots off the backboard, and was unafraid to challenge anyone at the rim. Some have even described him as having guard like skills, although the outside shot is a bit of a mystery as he went 0-7 while with the 'Noles. With three years of eligibility remaining and experience gained through the FIBA circuit and the ACC, Nitu would be a nice fit in Spokane as a developmental big alongside Jefferson and Diagne. Advertisement He's drawn interest from Washington, with head coach Danny Sprinkle even flying out to Tallahassee to watch him workout, and it wouldn't be a surprise if other power conference teams come poking around now that many of the bigger names are off the board. Gonzaga will likely keep their focus on guards for now, but snagging Nitu as a high upside developmental big is the kind of move coach Few likes to make and one that is easy to see working well for both sides. Related: Gonzaga Target and WCC Leading Scorer Malik Thomas Announces Transfer Portal Decision
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Top Ranked Recruit in 2026 Class Has Plans to Visit Gonzaga
Mark Few and the Gonzaga Bulldogs have had a wildly successful 25 year run, making the NCAA Tournament every year since 1999 and going to nine straight Sweet 16's with a pair of national championship appearances - all done primarily without the luxury of blue chip prospects out of high school. There are exceptions, including Zach Collins, Jalen Suggs, and Chet Holmgren, but for the most part the Zags have relied on developing talent across multiple years, and scouring the transfer and international market to unearth hidden gems. Advertisement That doesn't mean Few and the Zags aren't pursuing the very best of the best, however, as evidenced by their interest in the number one ranked recruit in the 2026 class in Tyran Stokes, a 6'7 wing from Sherman Oaks, CA. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images A report from ESPN's Paul Biancardi indicated Stokes has plans to visit Gonzaga as well as Oregon and Arkansas. He's already visited Kansas and Kentucky and has another visit to Lexington scheduled May 15-17. The rising senior attends the same high school, Notre Dame, as former Zag guard Dusty Stromer, and Gonzaga's familiarity with the coaching staff over there can't hurt them on the recruiting trail. Advertisement Stokes is a 6'7 wing with exceptional athleticism and physicality, who has proven himself as more than just an explosive dunker with his strong playmaking skills, growth defensively, and burgeoning leadership qualities. "Tyran's playmaking ability, rebounding and flexibility on both ends allowed him to be a dominant force this season," Notre Dame coach Matt Sargent said. "His growth as a leader and focused competitor is where he really shined toward the end of the season." Gonzaga has landed the No. 1 recruit in the country before in Holmgren, and while Kansas and Kentucky are the favorites right now - with Arkansas making a push under coach Calipari - coach Few and the Zags will pull out all the stops to try to get Stokes out to Spokane where he would thrive in Gonzaga's high octane offense. Related: Gonzaga Ranked Number One Player Development Program in College Basketball
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Seven Zags in the 2025 NBA Playoffs
Seven Zags in the 2025 NBA Playoffs Photo byA total of 12 Zags appeared in the NBA during the 2024-25 season and over half of them have made it to the NBA Playoffs. Brooklyn Nets forward Drew Timme, Washington Wizards guard Corey Kispert, Sacramento Kings forward/center Domantas Sabonis, Chicago Bulls forward/center Zach Collins, and New Orleans Pelicans forward Kelly Olynyk have all begun their offseason. Advertisement Here are the seven Zags who have extended their campaigns into the 2025 NBA Playoffs: Oklahoma City Thunder forward/center Chet Holmgren Denver Nuggets guard Julian Strawther Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura New York Knicks forward Anton Watson Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard *Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke *Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs * - out with knee injury/won't suit up for postseason According to FanDuel, Oklahoma City has the second-best odds to win the 2025 NBA title at +180. The Boston Celtics are the favorite at +185. The NBA Finals begin on June 5. The NBA Playoffs tip-off tomorrow, March 19. Advertisement Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area... Follow him on Twitter @a_cravalho More from
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gonzaga returns to the AP rankings at No. 24
Gonzaga returns to the AP rankings at No. 24 Mar. 17—Gonzaga's run to the West Coast Conference Tournament championship, including a title-game win over Saint Mary's, vaulted the Zags back into the AP Top 25 for the first time since mid-January. The Zags (25-8) moved in at No. 24 with 151 points, eight points behind No. 23 Missouri and 36 ahead of No. 25 Oregon. GU handled San Francisco 85-76 and the Gaels 58-51 at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. Advertisement Gonzaga has won four straight games, including three Quad 1 victories and one Quad 2. The eighth-seeded Zags open the NCAA Tournament against Georgia on Thursday in Wichita. GU was ranked No. 16 before losing to Oregon State 97-89 in overtime in Corvallis on Jan. 16 and falling to visiting Santa Clara 103-99 at the McCarthey Athletic Center two days later. The Zags have lost twice since, both to Saint Mary's before knocking off the Gaels last Tuesday. Saint Mary's, a seven seed in the NCAA Tournament, dropped one spot to No. 20. Duke remained at No. 1 with 49 of 59 first-place votes from the media panel. The Blue Devils are followed by fellow No. 1 seeds Houston, Florida and Auburn. Gonzaga and Houston will square off if both win first-round games Thursday. Advertisement St. John's is No. 5, its highest ranking since Jan. 1991, followed by fellow two seeds Tennessee, Alabama and Michigan State. Texas Tech and Louisville round out the top 10. Seven SEC teams are in the top 25. Arizona, led by former Gonzaga assistant coach Tommy Lloyd, is No. 21. Gonzaga is No. 23 in the USA Today coaches' poll. The Zags enter the NCAA Tournament No. 8 in the NET rankings.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gonzaga Basketball Top Portal Target Announces Transfer Decision
Gonzaga's first big target in the NCAA transfer portal has announced his decision, choosing to join Greg McDermott and the Creighton Bluejays out of a final four that also included Gonzaga, Arkansas, and Michigan. Freeman entered the portal back in mid-March after Iowa moved on from head coach Fran McCaffery. The team has since moved on and hired Ben McCollum from Drake, who led the Bulldogs to a Round 1 upset in the Sweet 16 over Missouri. Freeman however will join a Bluejays team that has been anchored down low by Ryan Kalkbrenner since 2020, and could use another two-way low post presence. As a sophomore this past season, Freeman averaged 16.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 19 games played, shooting 66.5% on two pointers and 31.3% (5-16) from three. He missed the final six weeks of the season due to a finger injury. Advertisement Freeman, the Big Ten Rookie of the Year in 2023-24, is expected to be among the best big men available this portal cycle. His footwork down low and touch around the rim would have made him an ideal fit in Gonzaga's offense, which relies on a heavy dose of paint touches. Instead the Zags will continue to scour the portal market, knowing at least one frontcourt player - Ben Gregg - is out the door while waiting to see if Graham Ike or Michael Ajayi will return for one more season. Gonzaga is not just looking for bigs, with Mountain West Player of the Year Donovan Dent and near 20 point per game wing Treysen Eaglestaff both reporting the Zags have reached out. Related: Former Gonzaga Target and McDonald's All-American Enters NCAA Transfer Portal
