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NCAA Basketball: 5 takeaways from Nolan Hickman committing to Gonzaga

By Tristan Freeman

SAN JOSE, CA - MARCH 25: Head coach Mark Few of the Gonzaga Bulldogs cuts down the net after their 83 to 59 win over the Xavier Musketeers during the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament West Regional at SAP Center on March 25, 2017 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA - MARCH 25: Head coach Mark Few of the Gonzaga Bulldogs cuts down the net after their 83 to 59 win over the Xavier Musketeers during the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament West Regional at SAP Center on March 25, 2017 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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NCAA Basketball Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
NCAA Basketball Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

3. Other national powers came up short

For this section, I’ll be breaking down where the two other finalists (Auburn and Kansas) go from here to land talent, along with a section on a team that also lost, even if they weren’t mentioned at all in this situation.

Auburn Tigers

It seemed weird that the Tigers would try to land another guard this offseason after getting three transfers already this offseason. Desi Sills (Arkansas) averaged around 7.0 ppg last season while Zep Jasper (College of Charleston) and Wendell Green (15.8 ppg and 5.0 apg at Eastern Kentucky) came from mid-major programs, which always is a risk when transferring to a high-level league like the SEC.

Green is the only true ball-handler on the roster right now so adding Hickman would’ve made great sense, while giving a major shot to conference rival Kentucky. The good news is that there’s another talented point guard in their reach reportedly in Scoota Henderson, a five-star class of 2022 prospect that could reclassify to play next season, stay in high school or go to the G League either this or next year. He’ll now be the emphasis for the coaching staff in the coming weeks.

Kansas Jayhawks

The Jayhawks were a finalist in the first go-around for Hickman, making them a two-time loser in this recruitment. Whether or not the ongoing saga regarding alleged recruiting violations and possible future sanctions from the NCAA is affecting prospects or not can only be answered by them by this past year has seen a lot of top-30 recruits say no to Kansas, including local targets, Tamar Bates and Kendall Brown.

Even without Marcus Garett and potentially Ochai Agbaji too, the Jayhawks still have Drake transfer Joseph Yesufu at the point guard position. They’re looking for depth and after missing out on both Hickman and Washington, are hoping for a top-tier playmaker to enter the portal. Maybe Remy Martin of Arizona State if he leaves the NBA Draft?

Washington Huskies

It’s important to note that Hickman is from the Seattle area. Not too long ago in the northwest recruiting world, it was nearly impossible for prospects on the west side of the state of Washington not to end up with the Huskies, unless they went to a national powerhouse. The locals stuck around and certainly didn’t go to rival program Gonzaga. That’s why head coach Mark Few had used the international pipeline and other areas in the country.

But in the past five years when the Bulldogs have ascended and Washington descended, the Seattle area has been more beneficial to the WCC program than the Pac-12 one. Starting with Kispert, Gonzaga has been much more successful, even landing 2021 forward Kaden Perry and nearly landing five-star forward prospect Paolo Banchero before he committed to Duke.

The fact that Hickman, who sighted “homesickness” as a reason for leaving, didn’t pick the program right near him in Seattle and picked Gonzaga, shows how big a gap that has opened up between the two top programs in the state of Washington. It’s reached the point that the Bulldogs can go right into the city and pick who they want. The Huskies know they can’t compete in a recruiting battle and that’ll have to change if they want any hope of being competitive again.

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