Gonzaga Basketball: Can Admon Gilder lead Bulldogs backcourt in 2019-20?

Josh Perkins provided a steady presence in the backcourt over his four years at Gonzaga Basketball. Will graduate transfer Admon Gilder be able to fill the void?

Head coach Mark Few and Gonzaga Basketball haven’t been a stranger to transfers, bringing in game-changing talent like Nigel Williams-Goss, Jonathan Williams, and Brandon Clarke over the last few seasons.

(Credit to KenPom and sports-reference for statistics, NCAA March Madness for GIFS)

At the same time, however, Gonzaga has rarely been “desperate” for production from their transfers. The Bulldogs have often had deep rosters that would have been solid even without major contributions from their newcomers.

This upcoming season, however, the performance of Gonzaga’s “headline transfer” may be the number one predictor of the team’s success. In May, Admon Gilder, a graduate transfer from Texas A&M, announced he was choosing to finish his college career at Gonzaga.

The 6-4 guard played three years with the Aggies but was forced to miss last season after being diagnosed with a blood clot. He has since been cleared to play, and the Bulldogs will definitely need him to provide solid guard play.

Josh Perkins might have had some ups-and-downs over his college career, but he provided four years of relative stability at the guard position. Not only has Perkins graduated, but another guard in Zach Norvell chose to pursue a professional career after only two years with the program.

Additionally, although he only received 4.6 minutes per game last season, one would have expected Gonzaga’s Gregg Foster Jr. to have a bigger backcourt role next year. He decided to transfer, however, leaving Mark Few’s squad with an even bigger void on the roster.

Rising junior Corey Kispert has played a lot of small forward for Gonzaga but can surely function in the backcourt as well. There is some hope that rising sophomore Joel Ayayi will pick up some point guard duties, but he’s still a bit of an unknown after averaging only 5.6 minutes per game last season. Incoming three-star freshman Brock Ravet may eventually play a role in the backcourt, but it’s hard to expect too much right away.

Help was potentially on the way, with former USC trojan Derryck Thornton having Gonzaga on his transfer short list. Thornton could have provided some solid guard play, but he has reportedly chosen Boston College instead.

*Editor’s note: Grad transfer Ryan Wooldridge committed to Gonzaga after the article was first written. However, he is dealing with an injury suffered from last season and his status to start 2019-20 is unknown

The confluence of all these factors made Gilder’s decision to join Gonzaga all the more important. There could be a lot of responsibility on his shoulders, so what is he capable of providing?

Gilder should be able to bring some playmaking, but he’s been more of a “combo guard,” averaging only 1.3, 3.9, and 2.6 assists per game over his career. He’s been effective playing off the ball due to his spot-up shooting capabilities (34.7%, 37.7%, and 39.5% from three).

Although Gilder’s #1 strength might not be creating for others, he still has plenty of ability as a ball-handler. If nothing else, he’ll provide a consistent scoring presence that is capable of scoring in bunches.

He shouldn’t have too many problems in the WCC, but it’s uncertain whether a Gilder-led backcourt can lead the Bulldogs deep in the tournament. If Ayayi makes a significant leap, maybe this would propel the team to the next level.

Gonzaga still has plenty of talent, however, and is known for developing its players. Along with Ravet, the team is bringing in three different freshmen that are all listed at 6-10: Drew Timme, Anton Watson, and Pavel Zakharov. Maybe one or more of them will impress.

If Killan Tillie turns into a go-to player, this would take a lot of pressure off of Gilder. But regardless, they will need the guard to be a major contributor. He’s capable of it, and it’ll be fun to see if he’s up to the challenge.