Gonzaga Basketball: 2023-24 season preview for the Bulldogs

Key Reserves

Center – Ben Gregg

With an increased role and high-energy playstyle, Ben Gregg vaulted himself solidly into the rotation on last year’s team despite being the second center off of the bench behind Efton Reid to start the year. The move was largely earned by Gregg’s activeness on defense and ability to stretch defenses with his perimeter shooting (37% on 59 attempts). Gregg will again fulfill the role of the first big off of the bench, with the added minutes required to give Ike adequate rest and load management. If Gregg can continue building out his game to become more of an interior threat, he could look forward to an even larger role.

Forward – Braden Huff

A sleeper for a larger part than many perhaps would expect, Braden Huff is ready to begin his playing career and carve out rotational minutes as a space-creating offensive forward. Huff has shown an ability to score at multiple levels and recently led Kraziness in the Kennel in scoring. It very well could be, considering how much scoring is left on the team, that Huff is too good to leave on the bench. His 6-foot-10 allows him to battle on defense and could be a mismatch against more plotting bigs that will have to leave the key to defend him. It may not be immediate, but come conference, Huff could compete for early rotational minutes.

Guard – Dusty Stromer

The latest recruiting win, Dusty Stromer, projects to have a similar path as Corey Kispert when he came to Spokane. Minutes might be limited to start, but Stromer has the composure, size and shot profile to be in the rotation this season with big expectations to follow down the road. He’s going to need to be a scoring piece off of the bench, especially on the perimeter, considering the system. He was a sharpshooting big guard in high school, but that shooting may take time at the next level. What he does have is an already-developed handle that will allow him to keep defenders honest.

Forward – Jun Seok Yeo

It’s unclear what Jun Seok Yeo’s path to minutes will look like this season as a raw, finishing wing forward currently behind four other bigs. The 6-foot-8 sophomore showed flashes of what his game could be throughout international competition (he averaged 25.6 points and 10.6 rebounds in U19 FIBA two years ago) and could still be a worthwhile reserve should injuries become a factor this season. Yeo’s development is also dictated by what his plans are as a prospect. He could very well decide to jump pro after a second year as a reserve. But should he stick it out and go through Gonzaga’s developmental system, he could become an integral piece for another year or two.

Guard – Luka Krajnovic

Mark Few has consistently relied on a tight rotation and that often leaves someone left out. Luka Krajnovic was added to the roster later in the offseason and it feels as though it’s a developmental bet as well as an insurance policy for Nembhard, who will likely average north of 32 minutes this year (averaged 34 for Creighton). Krajnovic is a season international player who was on the second team for the Croatian Premier League and also received Most Improved Player honors. He offers intriguing size at 6-foot-5. It’s possible that he can find minutes off-ball as well, but he’s one of many players on this page that has an unknown path that only the season can develop and make clear.