Julian Strawther – Henderson, NV
SF | 6-foot-7 | 210 lbs | No. 59 overall
Julian Strawther is another multipositional four-star commit in this recruiting class for Gonzaga. With solid athleticism and a well-built 6-foot-7 frame, Strawther fits the mold of a combo forward that should excel at the collegiate level. He can function either as a true wing or as a small-ball “4” with Gonzaga and was a highly-touted all-around contributor at the high school level. Strawther is an impressive skilled player at his size with a full bag of tricks.
As an offensive threat, Strawther is particularly effective off the dribble. He boasts strong ball skills for the forward spot and is able to beat his man with consistency. This is when he is able to showcase his excellent touch from the mid-range and solid playmaking instincts. He needs to improve his lateral quickness a bit to be a standout defender but can definitely hold his own on that end of the floor.
Strawther’s strengths mostly lie on the offensive end and he should be an excellent fit in Gonzaga’s system. The Bulldogs have ranked in the Top 25 of the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency in each of the past six seasons and he should contribute to keeping that streak alive. He is a high-level scoring threat that can either be a go-to option or a supporting piece.
With regard to potential playing time as a freshman, it is very difficult to figure out how Strawther will fit in the rotation (just like with Harris). Gonzaga is so loaded with talent that head coach Mark Few will have to make some difficult decisions in order to trim the rotation to a manageable number. There should be no doubt about the idea that Strawther will be a big-time contributor at some point in his career with the Zags, though.