Gonzaga Basketball: 2017-18 season preview for the Bulldogs

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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – MARCH 18: Rui Hachimura /

Key Reserves

While sophomore forward Rui Hachimura could compete for a starting spot, he is most likely one year away from earning the role. Hachimura spent last season as a reserve player whose minutes came during Gonzaga blowouts, but his performance during the FIBA U-19 World Cup was promising to Zag fans. Hachimura put up an impressive 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists, but concerns over his ability to play within Gonzaga’s offense still remain. If Hachimura can prove he is better acclimated to the structured offense, and doesn’t look as lost as he did at times last season, he will be a big contributor.

Jacob Larsen (Redshirt Freshman)

After spending last season sidelined with a knee injury, Jacob Larsen will head into this year as the only true center on Gonzaga’s roster. Although Larsen may not be expected to start, he will need to play significant minutes in the middle. The biggest question surrounding Larsen is his ability to remain healthy, as his history of knee injuries is not promising.

Corey Kispert (Freshman)

The most anticipated true freshman on the Gonzaga roster, Corey Kispert is expected to be a strong forward for the Bulldogs. If his versatility wasn’t enough to get Zags’ fans excited, his big time dunks during Gonzaga’s Kraziness in the Kennel this weekend surely were. Kispert turned down offers from Notre Dame and Virginia to go to Gonzaga and will be a nightmare for smaller WCC wings to defend.

But the real winner was @corey_kispert's mom, who came through with the assist after he surprised her and pulled her out of the crowd pic.twitter.com/RSAUiUiYQL
— Lindsay Joy (@LindsayJoyTV) October 8, 2017

Jesse Wade (Freshman)

Jesse Wade is finally back from his two year LDS mission, and Gonzaga will expect him to make an immediate impact off the bench. Praised for his shot out of high school, Wade was the top recruit in Utah’s 2015 class according to ESPN. Wade will see plenty of minutes off the bench, presumably playing both guard positions throughout the season.

Joel Ayayi (Freshman)

After losing Nigel Williams-Goss and Zach Collins to the draft, Joel Ayayi was first big addition Mark Few made to the roster. Ayayi, a 6’5” guard from France, will take some time to adjust; however, his athleticism and size will be a huge positive for the Zags in the coming years. This year, Ayayi’s impact may be closer to that of Rui Hachimura’s impact last season, but he may be asked to provide good minutes if needed.