NCAA Basketball: Updated early top-25 rankings for 2021-22 after NBA Draft deadline

Compared to the year prior, the NBA Draft deadline was one without drama for Gonzaga, as all the draft decisions were made by May. Likely lottery picks, Jalen Suggs and Corey Kispert were always set to leave, while junior guard Joel Ayayi declared a few days after the national title game.

But there were two other decisions that needed to be made in starting point guard Andrew Nembhard and center Drew Timme. There was a chance that the Florida transfer guard and the All-American big man could’ve gone pro, or at least go through the process.

The fact that neither went through it made this offseason fairly smooth for the program. It also allowed them to shore up a couple of loose ends made by the trio of departures. It became a foregone conclusion that No. 1 overall prospect Chet Holmgren and top-10 overall prospect Hunter Sallis was joining but they also brought in top-30 point guard recruit and former Kentucky commit Nolan Hickman.

To add even more depth, Iowa State transfer Rasir Bolton picked Gonzaga after averaging 15.5 ppg and 3.9 apg last season. He may not even start depending on the rotations but with Nembhard and Timme leading the way, this roster is filled with a ton of talent among its projected 10-man rotation.

We’ve seen some teams take a major step forward and have entered themselves into the conversation for preseason No. 1 team for 2021-22. However, Gonzaga still remains supreme on paper and barring another massive development, should get the nod when the first polls come out.