Gonzaga basketball enthusiasts breathed a collective sigh of relief as the transfer portal officially closed on Wednesday night. Just before the deadline, as the clock approached 9 p.m. PST on May 1, Gonzaga’s social media team posted a photo of the team with the caption “We back.”
The image confirmed what many had anticipated: head coach Mark Few is bringing back seven of his top eight scorers, including four out of five starters, from last season’s Sweet 16 team. Additionally, Steele Venters, who missed the previous season due to a torn ACL, was pictured. However, Pepperdine transfer Michael Ajayi was not featured in the photo, although the program anticipates his return for the upcoming season.
There were no last-minute transfers or declarations for the NBA Draft from Graham Ike, Ryan Nembhard, or Nolan Hickman. Ben Gregg and Braden Huff will provide depth in the frontcourt behind Ike, while Dusty Stromer and Jun Seok Yeo will compete for minutes on the wing alongside Venters and Ajayi. The squad is completed by Joe Few and walk-on Joaquim Aruz-Moore.
Despite having four open scholarships, the Bulldogs are still open to adding external talent to their roster. Grad transfer Khalif Battle from Arkansas is set for an official visit, potentially bolstering Gonzaga’s backcourt for the upcoming season.
With an impressive 81.4% of minutes played expected to return from last season, Gonzaga is in a strong position heading into the fall. This retention rate is the highest since the 2005-06 season, indicating the team’s ability to adapt to the modern landscape of college basketball.
While continuity has become less significant in recent years, Gonzaga’s return of key players, including three All-WCC selections, positions them as one of the favorites for the upcoming season. The team’s experience and talent, coupled with the continuity at the point guard position, bode well for their prospects in the upcoming campaign.
