Top recruit Holmgren set for Gonzaga
Star Suggs says he’ll leave Bulldogs for NBA draft
SPOKANE, Wash. — Chet Holmgren, the nation’s top overall recruit, announced he is heading to Gonzaga on the same day star guard Jalen Suggs announced he is leaving the Bulldogs after one season to enter the NBA draft.
Holmgren said on ESPN that he will play for the Bulldogs. He will likely play only one college season.
Holmgren had also been considering Ohio State, Michigan, North Carolina, Minnesota, Memphis and Georgetown.
“It was their consistent approach, how versatile they are on the court and their offensive style,” said Holmgren. “They take their talent and tweak their system based on their personnel. They know how to put it all together.”
Holmgren combines the skills of a guard with a 7-foot-1 frame and has been projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft.
As a senior at Minnehaha Academy in Minnesota, Holmgren averaged 20.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 4.7 blocks, shooting 80% from the field.
Holmgren is following in the footsteps of Suggs, a close friend who is also from Minnesota.
Suggs had a stellar freshman season, capped off by hitting one of the most memorable shots in Final Four history, a buzzer-beating 3-pointer against UCLA that sent Gonzaga into the national championship game. The Zags lost to Baylor in the title game.
Suggs announced in a Twitter post that he will enter the draft, which was anticipated since he’s considered a top pick.
“Super excited, can’t wait to take this next step in my journey,” Suggs said during an interview on ESPN. “It’s something I’ve dreamed about since I was a little kid. I’m ready to get going.”
Suggs averaged 14.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists as a freshman.
Suggs, who played with Holmgren at Minnehaha Academy and on AAU teams, was previously the highest-rated recruit in Gonzaga history. He was 11th in 247sports’ composite rankings when he committed to the Zags and 10th in the final rankings for the 2020 class.
BRUINS: UCLA has signed Rutgers transfer Myles Johnson, who will be a senior in the fall when he enrolls in graduate school.
Johnson averaged 8.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.4 blocks starting 22 of 28 games for Rutgers last season, when the Scarlet Knights lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He finished the season second in the Big Ten in blocks and sixth in rebounding.
The 6-foot-11 center is from nearby Long Beach. He played three seasons at Rutgers, where he will graduate this spring with a degree in electrical and computer engineering. He’ll enroll in UCLA’s graduate engineering program.
“Myles has a vision for where he wants to be and what he aspires to do, beyond playing basketball, and I believe that he’s a great fit for UCLA,” coach Mick Cronin said. “He is an experienced player who has really improved during his four years in college, and he will be a critical piece for us in the frontcourt next season.”