Busting Brackets
Fansided

Gonzaga Basketball: Graduate transfer Admon Gilder a must-get for Bulldogs

By Tristan Freeman

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 18: Admon Gilder #3 of the Texas A&M Aggies reacts after a three point shot against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 18, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 18: Admon Gilder #3 of the Texas A&M Aggies reacts after a three point shot against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 18, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Gonzaga Basketball has a big need at the point guard position for next season. Can transfer Admon Gilder be the player to fill it?

This is a big weekend for Gonzaga Basketball, as they have two different transfers visiting. One of them is David Jenkins, a transfer from South Dakota State who averaged over 20 ppg this past season. The other is Admon Gilder, a point guard from Texas A&M who is considered to be one of the top available players on the market.

Both are key targets for the Bulldogs to revamp their perimeter but Gilder will take more precedence due to him being immediately eligible for the 2019-20 season. Unless Jenkins can get an NCAA waiver, he’ll likely have to sit out next year. It’s been awhile that Coach Few and Gonzaga Basketball has even had to look for a starting point guard, as both Kevin Pangos and Josh Perkins has been the “guy” for the last eight seasons. But with Perkins graduating and backup Joel Ayayi not being viewed as ready to take over as lead ball handler, the Bulldogs have been going through the transfer portal to find a suitable stopgap.

Even though there are nearly 800 that have entered the transfer portal this offseason, there haven’t been as many point guards viewed at the current level of the Bulldogs. But Gilder is one of the few exceptions, having started his last two full seasons with the Aggies. He averaged 13.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 3.3 apg on 39% three-point shooting between 2017-2018. The 6’4 guard also is a very good defender who can disrupt opposing perimeter players.

Talent isn’t the issue regarding Gilder but rather health. He didn’t play all of last season due to doctors finding a blood clot in his arm. However, he’s been cleared to resume basketball activities and hopefully will be good to go for next season. But as a graduate transfer, the former Texas A&M playmaker will have his choices of high-caliber programs to play for.

Besides Gonzaga, the local schools in the state of Texas have been pursing Gilder hard. Texas Tech, just coming off of a trip to the NCAA Basketball national title game are the biggest threat to the Bulldogs, with the ability to play near family a tempting offer. But while the Red Raiders certainly can offer Gilder a rotation spot it’s no guarantee he’ll start, with Davide Moretti coming back.

Gonzaga can give the former Aggie a starting role, and a key one at that. Not only is Perkins gone but starting two-guard Zach Norvell, who averaged 15 ppg this past season, could very well remain in the 2019 NBA Draft. If he picks the Bulldogs, Gilder would become the lead guard on what would be a preseason top-20 team no doubt.

dark. Next. Early WCC power rankings for 2019-20

If Gonzaga can’t land Gilder, there aren’t many other options in finding a capable ball handler for next season. There aren’t any better available grad transfers at the moment and while top-30 guard Boogie Ellis has left Duke this week, it’s not likely the Bulldogs will be able to land him. The WCC powerhouse has had plenty of transfer success in the past and Gilder could very well be the next one to come along.