Gonzaga Basketball: Analyzing Bulldogs 2020-21 projected rotation

Shooting Guards

Of Gonzaga’s three stars who tested out the NBA draft waters, guard Joel Ayayi seemed the most likely to come back.

While he had an excellent, breakout season in 2019-2020, averaging 10.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.3 steals, he still needs to prove he can knock down shots from long-range more consistently, and likely needs to demonstrate more ball-handling skills if he wants to succeed as a guard at the next level.

He’ll get an opportunity to do both for the Zags in 2020-21, returning as the team’s starting combo guard alongside Jalen Suggs. Ayayi will likely handle point guard duties on occasion as well, either with Suggs or fellow freshman Dominick Harris on the court alongside him.

Ayayi’s growth in year three will be a huge part of this team’s success this upcoming season and will go a long way toward determining if he is fit to make the jump to the NBA.

Harris will be the backup two-guard, and considering Mark Few’s tendency to only play seven or eight guys in a rotation, it’s hard to know exactly how much the four-star freshman out of Rancho Christian HS will play in year one.

Harris is a slasher and a shooter, showcasing an excellent ability to get to the rim and knock down open threes. There is little doubt he will be a big-time player in Spokane, although a logjam of extremely talented guards ahead of him may make this more of a learning year for the 6’4 freshman.