Mark Few and the Gonzaga Bulldogs have had the best offseason in all of college basketball. They returned eight scholarship players from a Sweet 16 team last year, losing only Anton Watson to graduation and two non-contributors, Luka Krajnovic and Pavle Stosic, to the transfer portal. The returning group - which includes Graham Ike, Ryan Nembhard, Ben Gregg, and Nolan Hickman, is arguably the best group of returners in the entire sport, on par with Iowa State, Kansas, and Alabama.

Gonzaga also added a trio of transfers who will help them compete right away, including Pepperdine's Michael Ajayi who pulled out of the NBA draft process and will help replace Watson at the four, and Arkansas guard Khalif Battle and Tarleton State's Emmanuel Innocenti.

We close out the show discussing how Few and the Zags staff also prepared this program for the future beyond this upcoming season, landing Colgate transfer guard Braeden Smith who will redshirt, as well Innocenti who has three years of eligibility and the team's pursuit of 17-year-old Ismaila Diagne and 2025 recruits Isaiah Harwell, Nik Khamenia, Davis Fogle, Jalen Haralson, and more!

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Mark Few and the Gonzaga Bulldogs got more great news on Wednesday with Pepperdine transfer wing Michael Ajayi opting to withdraw from the 2024 NBA draft and instead play for the Zags next season. Ajayi has one year of eligibility remaining, and the 6'7 wing will step into the starting lineup replacing Anton Watson. Ajayi's scoring and shooting skills, length on the perimeter, and experience make him a perfect final piece to that lineup after he made the All-WCC Team last season.

With 12 of Gonzaga's 13 scholarships now accounted for, and potentially the last one going to Ismaila Diagne, we wonder if Coach Few officially has his deepest roster ever - with comparisons to the 2016-17 and 2020-21 squads which each made the NCAA Tournament national championship game.

We close out the show discussing other NBA draft decisions, including Jonathan Mogbo leaving San Francisco to stay in the draft, Jaylen Wells doing the same out of Washington State, and what Alex Karaban returning for UConn means for the defending champs.

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Mark Few and the Gonzaga Bulldogs are in pursuit of Ismaila Diagne, a 17-year-old seven-footer from Senegal who is currently playing for Real Madrid. Diagne would fill the Zags 13th and final scholarship spot, and would add needed depth to the frontcourt while giving the program another developmental piece for the future.

For 25 years, Gonzaga has found ways to add talent and construct a roster by being willing to go against the grain, and now in an era where many teams are only filling 10 or 11 roster spots the Zags are aggressively trying to fill each scholarship by adding players who can learn the system behind the scenes and step into a bigger role in Year two. Between the possible addition of Diagne and the additions of Braeden Smith and Emmanuel Innocenti, this team is well prepared for the present and future.

We close out the show discussing 2025 target Nik Khamenia being named to Team USA's U18 roster and Andrew Nembhard who is expected to play for Team Canada at the Olympics after a dominating run in the NBA Playoffs with the Indiana Pacers.

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LinkedIn
These days every new potential hire can feel like a high stakes wager for your small business. That’s why LinkedIn Jobs helps find the right people for your team, faster and for free. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/lockedoncollege. Terms and conditions apply.

Gametime
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eBay Motors
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