Gonzaga freshman Jesse Wade expected to miss Saturday’s exhibition game

Gonzaga isn’t expected to be at full strength for Saturday’s exhibition game against College of Idaho at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

Freshman guard Jesse Wade’s long-awaited debut in a Zag uniform is on hold due to recurring shoulder issues. Wade has been sidelined or very limited at practices. He sat out last week’s scrimmage against Texas A&M in Denver.

Wade made both of his 3-point attempts and scored eight points in 14 minutes in the Kraziness in the Kennel intrasquad scrimmage last month.

Wade, a four-star recruit, committed to Gonzaga in October, 2013. He then completed his prep career at Davis High in Kaysville, Utah, and served a two-year mission in France, where his time spent on basketball-related activities was minimal. He returned to the U.S. in April and attended summer school at Gonzaga.

Wade averaged 26.8 points and made 45 percent of his 3-pointers as a senior.

The Zags don’t have much depth in the backcourt. Junior point guard Josh Perkins and senior guard Silas Melson are presumed starters. Redshirt freshman Zach Norvell Jr. should see extensive playing time as a backup guard and/or starting wing. Joel Ayayi, a true freshman from France, is the only other scholarship guard.

Saturday’s game against College of Idaho, an NAIA program located in Caldwell, tips at 5 p.m. The Coyotes have won two Cascade Collegiate Conference titles and two conference tournament championships in head coach Scott Garson’s first four seasons.

Garson and Gonzaga assistant coach Donny Daniels were assistants together at Utah and UCLA.

The seventh-ranked Yotes were picked to win their conference in a preseason coaches’ poll. They split two games last weekend at the Taco Bell Shoot-Out on their campus.