Gonzaga Basketball: 4 current potential targets in transfer portal
By Tuck Clarry
Kevin McCullar
Senior, Guard, Texas Tech
10.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists
When Texas Tech’sKevin McCullar announced his decision to enter the draft process, he made an interesting addendum to the declaration. He clarified that he would enter while maintaining his college eligibility. The utility guard took that even a step further and said there were two teams he would return to college to play for: Kansas and Gonzaga.
McCullar makes a lot of sense in a multitude of roster compositions for the Zags. Few has gone out and found an experienced, veteran guard in the transfer market year-in-year-out. McCullar may be the most accomplished of any of those names should he choose Spokane, playing in 79 games for the Red Raiders and starting in 49 of them.
The 6-foot-6 guard is primarily known for his defense. Playing in the vaunted no-middle defense in Lubbock, his role was to spearhead traps and shepherd the ballhandler into the sideline for difficult passing lanes and tough shots. His length made him a terrific disrupter that could guard four positions. His return to college would most likely be for an opportunity to showcase his ability as a ballhandler and passer in a more traditional offense.
The Chris Beard, now Mark Adams system relies on length and tenacious physicality on defense, which doesn’t always translate to aesthetically pleasing or high firepower on the offensive end. McCullar is a career 47.6% effective field goal shooter, but that is also due to the lack of scoring threats around him and needing to shoot late in the shot clock. With Gonzaga’s spacing, McCullar could find higher percentage looks (just 36% of his shots were at the rim).
Gonzaga could play a four-guard lineup should McCullar choose the Zags and just Julian Strawther returns. A platoon of Nolan Hickman, Hunter Sallis, Dominick Harris and Kevin McCullar could be one of the best on-ball perimeter defensive teams in the country and offer a new wrinkle for a Gonzaga team often knocked for not being physical or aggressive.
McCullar went to the G League Elite Camp and performed relatively well before being sidelined by a minor injury. Should he return, it’s widely considered a toss-up between Gonzaga and Kansas, but the Jayhawks have picked up steam and a crystal ball prediction.