Grip on Sports: With Collins leaving Gonzaga, where does that leave the Zags?
A GRIP ON SPORTS • The Gonzaga basketball team achieved a handful of firsts this season. First GU group to finish non-conference play undefeated. First to enter the last game of the regular season without a loss. First to make the Final Four. First to play for the national title. Oh, and ya, one other first. Read on.
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• Zach Collins already had checked off one “first.” He was Gonzaga’s first McDonald’s All-America to enroll directly from high school.
Yesterday, the freshman center filled in another one. He will be Gonzaga’s first one-and-done player. And the school’s first one-and-done player not to start a game.
The 7-foot center is leaving, hiring an agent and entering the NBA draft. He should be a lottery pick, which means in a couple of months he’ll be worth a lot more money than anyone on Gonzaga’s 2016-17 roster.
Which makes it simple for he, and his family, which had a huge role in the decision, to decide to leave.
It’s hard to fault the choice. As his father Mike told our Jim Meehan, “He’s listed anywhere from 8 to 20 (in mock drafts’ first round). You go when the league wants you to go.”
Could Collins use another year of maturation? Sure. He’s not as NBA-ready, physically, as some freshmen. But that isn’t as big a deal as one might think, as Collins’ draft status is predicated more on his potential than his current status.
And that potential is special. Athletic, skilled, long, whatever positive adjective you want to use, Collins displayed it this season.
Did he have weaknesses? Sure. Everyone does. And it’s those flaws he could have worked to improve next season at Gonzaga. But they also would have been more in evidence as the year rolled on, and NBA talent evaluators seem to revel in nitpicking such things to death.
So go now. While the stock is high.
• Is this a death-blow to Gonzaga’s chances for next season? It’s a blow, sure, but not a killer. It also might be something of a blessing. Just as Domantas Sabonis’ departure (after his sophomore year) allowed Collins a chance to shine, this decision should open the door for Jacob Larsen to enter the stage.
The 6-11 Larsen is still recovering from a knee injury suffered before the season, but the year off allowed the Danish center to get stronger. And it had to help him assimilate the Gonzaga big-man culture. With returnees Johnathan Williams and Killian Tillie (pictured), the Zags still should have a trio of strong inside players to rotate through the 4 and 5 spots.
The wildcard up front is Rui Hachimura, who, at 6-8, is big and strong enough to play inside but athletic enough to play a wing. His development will be one of the fun things to watch through the offseason.
• There is another decision still to come this week or next that will have any more importance to Gonzaga. What will Nigel Williams-Goss do?
Williams-Goss was a Wooden Award finalist, which should mean his NBA stock is high. He has spent four years in college already, has an undergraduate degree and is working on his Masters. So he’s already achieved the academic goal of most athletes.
But will he leave?
Despite all the accolades he earned this past season, Williams-Goss isn’t seen as an NBA lock. His game, the narrative goes, is better suited for the college ranks.
If he leaves, there is some doubt he’ll even get drafted. (Not by me. If he does decide to leave and run through the NBA car wash, his skill set and smarts should be attract at least one suitor.)
The crapshoot nature of leaving now has to be factored into his decision. Whatever way he decides to go, you have to believe he – and his family – will have looked at it objectively and has made the correct choice. He’s earned that decision-making trust.
If he stays, the Zags will still be a top-10 team. His presence on the court will help everyone, including the newer guys trying to acclimate to the college game.
But if he leaves, things get dicey for Gonzaga.
The Zags should still be the WCC favorite but, with Josh Perkins in charge offensively, and question marks about his backup, their chances to be a national-title contender without Collins or Williams-Goss seem to have departed.
And that’s the new normal at GU. Call it another “first” this year’s team established.
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WSU: The Cougars’ next breakout receiver? How about 6-3 sophomore Isaiah Johnson-Mack? Thus far this spring he seems to be that guy, as Jacob Thorpe’s feature in today’s S-R shows. … Jacob also has his college baseball notebook with a look at the Cougars’ offense heating up. … Former Cougar basketball star Carlos Daniel has a new job. … Around the Pac-12 in football, Washington is trying to replace John Ross. Good luck. … Chris Petersen’s new contract is worth a lot of money. … Arizona is losing an offensive lineman with a lot of potential but little in the way of a resume. … USC will scrimmage Thursday and all eyes will be on the receivers and how they mesh with quarterback Sam Darnold. … California’s receivers are also in the spotlight. … An Oregon Duck is trying to make the transition to receiver. … Utah scrimmaged yesterday and it won. … On the basketball front, another USC player declared for the draft but might be back. … Arizona knows it has a lot of guys who won’t be back, so who fills in? … Ditto for UCLA.
Gonzaga: Besides Jim’s story on Collins’ decision, we also can pass along a photo gallery of Collins’ freshman-season performances. … Collins’ decision has been covered around the nation. … There is a new T-shirt available for Gonzaga fans. … A former Gonzaga women’s basketball assistant is the new head coach at Grand Canyon University.
EWU: The most important position on a football field? Why, it is the one Jim Allen covers today in his series of stories on the Eagles’ spring practices. Quarterback. … An Eastern golfer had a nice tournament in Arizona.
Preps: There are some big soccer matches looming in the GSL. Jim Allen gives us a look at them.
Mariners: For the want of a catch we’ve all seen a thousand times over the years, the M’s fell 7-5 to the Houston Astros. Dave Nichols has his Mariners Log on the game and the links are at the bottom. … John Blanchette was in Safeco Field again last night and has a column on the guy who almost made that catch, rookie right-fielder Mitch Haniger. And probably should have.
Seahawks: The Hawks signed a defensive end who hasn’t played in the league since 2014 to go with the wide receiver they just signed who has been running track for years. … There are reports the Hawks have dropped their asking price for Richard Sherman. Such reports may or may not be true. … The draft is coming up. Who will Seattle take?
Sounders: Three points were there for the taking on the road the other night and Seattle couldn’t finish.
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• On a personal note, happy birthday to my wife of nearly 38 years, Kim. No one could have a better partner to go through this journey with. My gift to her today? A whole bunch of cheesy GIFs texted throughout the day. And a new chair for her to fall asleep in each night. There’s something comforting about – even when the M’s are in the process of blowing another lead – being able to look over and see her eyes closed, head cocked to the side, the dog in her lap and the basketball blanket covering her legs. Happy birthday honey. Until later …