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The Gonzaga Bulldogs reached the Sweet Sixteen last season after entering the year ranked 11th in the preseason AP Top 25 Poll. The Bulldogs are expected to be even better in 2024-25, as they were ranked sixth in this year's preseason AP Top 25 Poll, which was released on Monday.
Gonzaga will begin their 2024-25 season with a top-ten matchup against the No. 8-ranked Baylor Bears in just three weeks. Here's a look at three players on the Bulldogs roster that fans should keep an eye on in the upcoming season below.
3 Gonzaga Bulldogs stars to watch out for
#1 Graham Ike
Graham Ike initially joined the Wyoming Cowboys as an unranked prospect in the 2020 recruiting class. He joined the Gonzaga Bulldogs via the transfer portal ahead of the 2023-24 season after missing the previous year due to a leg injury.
Ike has averaged 16.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.5 blocks in 26.8 minutes per game while shooting 55.8% from the field, 32.3% from three-point range and 73.6% from the free-throw line in his three-year collegiate career.
In his first season with the Bulldogs, he averaged 16.5 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 0.9 apg, 0.6 spg and 0.7 bpg in 24.1 mpg while shooting 60.9% from the field, 36.8% from three-point range and 78.4% from the free-throw line last season.
#2: Ryan Nembhard
Ryan Nembhard initially joined the Creighton Bluejays as a four-star prospect in the 2021 recruiting class. He joined the Gonzaga Bulldogs via the transfer portal ahead of last season.
Nembhard has averaged 12.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.1 blocks while shooting 42.9% from the field, 33.2% from three-point range and 78.9% from the free-throw line during his three-year collegiate career.
In his first season with the Bulldogs, he averaged 12.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 6.9 apg and 1.2 spg while shooting 44.5% from the field, 32.1% from three-point range and 75.2% from the free-throw line.
#3: Nolan Hickman
Nolan Hickman joined the Gonzaga Bulldogs as a four-star prospect in the 2021 recruiting class.
He has averaged 9.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.3 blocks per game while shooting 44.9% from the field, 37.3% from 3-point range and 83.2% from the free throw line in his three-year collegiate career.
Hickman had a breakout season in 2023-24, averaging a career-high 14.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.0 spg and 0.3 bpg while shooting 47.1% from the field, 41.3% from 3-point range and 88.3% from the free throw line, all of which were career-bests.
