Steven Ashworth – Utah State Aggies
2022-23 season stats: 16.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.5 apg
Head coach Ryan Odom has left the program for VCU, which means that most of the players at Utah State have entered the portal. Ashworth was the best of them, leading the team in both points and assists in a breakout campaign. The 6’1 guard shot 43% from three-point range and dropped 30 points in a win over Oral Roberts, which included 8/9 shooting from three-point range.
Ashworth is a true combo guard at 6’1 and can both run the offense at point and play off the ball thanks to his shooting ability. So he’d be a good fit next to Hickman in the backcourt and replace the shooting that’s gone with Bolton away. And the WCC is very comparable to the Mountain West from a talent standpoint so it shouldn’t be much of a transition for him.
Gonzaga is reportedly among a group of contenders for his services, along with BYU and Creighton. As mentioned, the Bluejays don’t have Nembhard anymore but if the rest of the starting lineup remains intact, Ashworth would be joining what would be a top-10 caliber roster.
BYU also makes sense since Ashworth is a member of the LDS religious faith and previously served two years of a mission before joining Utah State. He could join the Cougars in their first year in the Big 12 but when it comes to making the 2024 NCAA Tournament, the better option would be at GU.