2022-23 Gonzaga Prep Bullpups Team Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gonzaga Prep had an up and down season in 2021-22, starting slow out of the gates and then finding their groove late to win their district playoffs and lock up an eight seed at the 4A State Tournament. It's always going to be tough playing in the Greater Spokane League but the Bullpups bring back a deep and experienced core with more than a few talented underclassmen looking to contribute. They do lose one of the best players in the state from a year ago in Jayden Stevens, but they still have what it takes to make another run at districts and possibly take that next step, placing at State in 2023. Here's a look at who's coming and going.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Graduated: </em></strong>Jayden Stevens <em>(Oregon State)</em>, Mason Simmons, Carter Collins</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Transferred: </em></strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1178758' first='Maximus' last='Allen'] <em>(Mead)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Key Returners: </em></strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1086705' first='Jamil' last='Miller'], [player_tooltip player_id='1416287' first='Carter' last='Verret'], [player_tooltip player_id='1270715' first='Jackson' last='Floyd'], [player_tooltip player_id='1450501' first='Henry' last='Sandberg'], [player_tooltip player_id='1450986' first='Jayce' last='Swanson'], <strong>Hudson Floyd</strong>, <strong>Nate Christy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You are not simply going to replace a guy like Jayden Stevens, but the Bullpups have a guy in [player_tooltip player_id='1086705' first='Jamil' last='Miller'] who is ready to step up and take the lead this season. He can replicate a lot of the athleticism on both sides of the ball that goes out the door with Stevens and has the tools to be that leading scoring presence. They have great backcourt depth in [player_tooltip player_id='1270715' first='Jackson' last='Floyd'], Sandberg, and Swanson, all of whom can put the ball in the hole and create off the dribble. The real hole is in the frontcourt and a lot of responsibility will fall to Verret and Miller to be stout defenders inside, while rebounding will have to be a complete team effort. Here are the key guys for Gonzaga Prep entering the 2022-23 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_634df9ad69f68","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1086705"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"As I said above, Gonzaga Prep has some big shoes to fill with Jayden Stevens gone, but if anyone can do it, it's Miller. He's an other-worldly athlete who can be utterly dominant at times and I think he's ready to lead this team. He really locked in as a defender in crunch time situations this summer and he'll have to play big on that side of the ball for G Prep, picking up both guards and posts. Offensively, he has the ability to score from inside and out, and he'll have to be that consistent scorer on most nights for this team to reach their potential.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1416287"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Verret will be leaned on heavily in the paint, particularly on the glass and on the defensive end. He has the capability to play tough inside; he battles on the boards and uses all of his 6'6 frame to do so and can finish from all around the paint. With all the depth in the backcourt, Verret will be the brute force for the Bullpups, setting screens, taking up space, and fighting for those second chance opportunities.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1270715"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":1178620,"_player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Floyd is the leader of the backcourt, manning the point spot most often and acting as a creator when things break down. He's a good slasher and a super tough kid who gives great effort each time he steps on the court. He can also get hot, burying outside shots and stopping up for mid-range jumpers. I see Floyd as the glue to the team, setting up the offense, being that secondary/third scoring option, and setting the tone with his effort on both ends.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1450501"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Sandberg was really impressive at times last season and blew me away with his growth this summer. He's a guy who can create his own looks, is a consistent threat to shoot from range, and makes those tough finishes at the rim. I like the scoring boost his gives this team and see him as a guy who can take over on certain nights.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1450986"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":1316560,"_player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"The more I look at it, the more clearly I see the theme for the Bullpups, toughness. Swanson only accentuates that image and is a fearless player on the hardwood. He is bursty, handles the ball well, and can get a good rhythm going with his shot. I like him as another scoring boost and a guy that will bring it on the other end too. Swanson could take a big step forward this season and is a player you aren't afraid to send out there for big moments.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"Hudson Floyd","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Gonzaga Prep","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"Built4Ball","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Floyd is a guy I really like going forward. He plays within himself, with poise, toughness, and a smart approach to the game. He's not the biggest guy but he reads the floor well, knows how to shield his shot inside against bigger defenders, and understands his responsibilities as a point guard. I'm not sure he'll get a ton of minutes this season, but if he does, trust he will make them count.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":1514948,"_player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"Nate Christy","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"6'5u0022","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"Gonzaga Prep","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"Hooptown Elite","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_6_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Christy is another player who may be a year away from really contributing but given their lack of size coming back for this season he could be a guy getting minutes up front. He's long, shows good mobility for a big guy, can put the ball on the court a little and even has good vision passing the ball. It remains to be seen how he'll handle the physicality of varsity ball, but Christy has great potential as the years go on and could learn a lot this season by being thrown into the fire.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This will be a fun team to watch as the season gets underway. The Greater Spokane League is wide open with a talented senior class departing. The Bullpups have a lot of questions to answer but they also have all of the right players to figure it out. I like this team being led by a deep and experienced backcourt, and having the grit to grind out close games. They may just have what it takes to repeat as district champs and stamp their return ticket to the 4A State Tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->