NCAA Basketball: 8 programs landing highest-ranked recruit in history

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 19: Cade Cunningham #1 of Montverde Academy is introduced prior to the game against Sanford School during the City of Palms Classic Day 2 at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on December 19, 2019 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – JANUARY 04: Jalen Suggs #1 of Minnehaha Academy Red Hawks (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Gonzaga – Jalen Suggs

"“We are very excited to have Jalen join the program. He has a really bright future, and I look forward to working with him. It has been great getting to know his family through the process.” Mark Few, Gonzaga Head Coach"

Zag fans should be used to the top by now. Thanks to another successful recruiting class, betting on the bulldogs extending their eight-year regular-season title run is like playing with house money. The mid-major school will compete with the blue bloods for number one in the country with the program’s first 5-star recruit, Jalen Suggs.

Speculation of Suggs’ future split into two camps before his signing. A productive season will put the 18-year-old on a path to become Gonzaga’s second one and done in program history. The first 2017 lottery pick Zach Collins, who stood as the program’s highest-ranked recruit ever until the Minnehaha Academy graduate’s pledge.

The gridiron built combo-guard brings size and athleticism to a lineup that could use a talent infusion. The Bulldogs are losing three seniors, grad transfers Ryan Wooldridge, Amond Gilder, and projected second-round Killian Tillie or 40% of their scoring.

Suggs comes in as the ninth-best prospect and third-best guard in his class but he won’t be the Zags only recruit. Four-star recruits Dominick Harris, Julian Strawther, Ourmar Ball will strengthen the roster from day one although Ballo will be ineligible for play next season.

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