Gonzaga Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for the Bulldogs

Key Reserves

Joel Ayayi | 6-foot-5 | 180 lbs | Sophomore

Joel Ayayi struggled to live up to expectations a bit during his redshirt freshman campaign but seems to be in the process of putting it all together. The versatile 6-foot-5 guard was absolutely tremendous at the FIBA U19 World Cup. While playing for France, Ayayi proved to be one of the best players at the entire event. He ended the tournament with averages of 20.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. This is hopefully a sign of what will be come for the rising sophomore.

Considering Gonzaga’s lack of depth in the backcourt, Ayayi will be a crucial piece of the puzzle this season. Regardless of whether or not he beats out Woolridge for a starting spot, it is obvious that Ayayi will see an increase in role this season. He should spend time at multiple different positions and Coach Few will likely trust him to run the offense for long stretches. He is a versatile talent with an extremely high ceiling.

Anton Watson | 6-foot-8 | 220 lbs | Freshman

A star local product out of Spokane, Anton Watson should see plenty of playing time in the frontcourt right away. He is a great physical presence at 6-foot-8 and 220 pounds with a long wingspan and plenty of athleticism. Watson was ranked as the No. 48 overall prospect in the 2019 recruiting class and absolutely oozes positional versatility at the college (and potentially professional) level. He is a dynamic defender on the perimeter and in the lane while also showcasing plenty of offensive ability as well.

Watson can score at all three levels and defends positions 3-through-5 when on the court. Those kinds of players are not easy to find and his versatility will yield plenty of playing time in Gonzaga’s talent-filled frontcourt. He is not quite as polished offensively as Timme but could be a more impactful defender. With that said, though, Watson’s athleticism and multi-positionality allow him to share the floor with just about anyone. He is someone to watch as a future star for his hometown program.

Brock Ravet | 6-foot-1 | 175 lbs | Freshman

Although not the most highly-rated player in Gonzaga’s incoming recruiting class, Brock Ravet could be tasked with playing a major role right away. He is a 6-foot-1 point guard with plenty of high-level scoring abilities, especially as a 3-point sniper. Ravet does not bring a ton of size or athleticism to the backcourt but is a smart player that is well-known as an offensive weapon. Considering the versatile scoring and defending pieces on Gonzaga’s roster, Ravet’s weaknesses should be covered up fairly easily while he emerges as a legit rotation piece right away.

As already referenced, the Bulldogs lack backcourt depth this season and therefore Ravet will need to be thrust into a reserve role. He should be a reliable shooter from beyond the arc and capable playmaker as a freshman while suffering some lapses on the defensive end. Nonetheless, the No. 181 overall recruit in the country is very skilled and should be a four-year impact guard in Spokane.

Pavel Zakharov | 6-foot-11 | 235 lbs | Freshman

Yet another highly-rated incoming freshman in the frontcourt, Pavel Zakharov brings plenty of size to the table as the No. 60 overall recruit in the class. While it might be difficult to crack the rotation in Gonzaga’s deep frontcourt, he is quite talented and should be a major contributor down the road and potentially right away. He runs the floor well, finishes around the rim, and does a nice job finding open teammates. He likely needs to add a bit more weight before taking the next step with his game but there should be no questions about his massive potential.

At the very least, Zakharov’s presence on the roster gives Coach Few a safety net in case of injury from one of his frontcourt starters. He is ready to contribute at the college level and expecting 10-15 minutes per game is a fair assumption to make with the season approaching. Zakharov’s playing time will depend on how he performs against the other top bigs on this roster. The competition will be fierce for minutes between Timme, Watson, Zakharov, and Ballo.

Martynas Arlauskas | 6-foot-6 | 200 lbs | Freshman

A true wing out of Lithuania, Martynas Arlauskas is ranked as the No. 136 overall player in the 2019 recruiting class. He might need to add some strength before emerging as a legit star at the college level but he is already a solid shooter from beyond the arc. He is also one of the best incoming wing passers in the class and that should make him a viable option for minutes in Gonzaga’s balanced offensive scheme. Arlauskas is highly intelligent on the court and consistently makes the right reads as a playmaker.

Gonzaga’s frontcourt is exceptionally deep and filled with multi-positional talents. With this said, it could prove difficult for Arlauskas to crack the rotation. He will be competing for minutes with several extremely talented and more polished players. Arlauskas has a high ceiling but will likely be one of the secondary reserves for the team. He needs to add more strength and consistency to his game but he is very intriguing.

Oumar Ballo | 6-foot-10 | 260 lbs | Freshman

Oumar Ballo was another impressive performer at the FIBA U19 World Cub as he helped push Mali to a second-place finish at the event. A dominant physical presence at the center spot on both ends of the floor, opponents constantly had their hands full against him. Over the course of five games at the event, Ballo posted averages of 17.6 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 3.8 blocks per game. He is a tremendous talent inside with the potential to make an impact right away for the Zags.

Ballo is ranked as the No. 78 overall prospect in the 2019 recruiting class and could bring a strong presence to the frontcourt right away for Gonzaga. He is well-known as a rebounder and shot-blocker with plenty of finishing ability as well. This frontcourt is full of potential immediate contributors, though, so we might have to wait another year before seeing Ballo take on a significant role in Spokane.