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College basketball transfer portal: Gonzaga basketball adds top-20 players in Graham Ike, Ryan Nembhard – 247Sports
Gonzaga basketball added two targets from the NCAA transfer portal Friday in former Wyoming big man Graham Ike and ex-Creighton guard Ryan Nembhard. Ike is ranked as the No. 9 player available in the transfer portal, while Nembhard was No. 16.
In March, Ike told 247Sports’ Brandon Jenkins that Arkansas, Arizona, Arizona State, Butler, Colorado, Georgetown, Gonzaga, Indiana, Iowa State, Kansas, Missouri, San Diego State, Seton Hall, Tennessee, Xavier, Washington State, and West Virginia were among the programs that had shown interest since he entered the transfer portal. During the 2021-22 season, Ike averaged 19.5 points per game and 9.6 rebounds as Wyoming made the NCAA Tournament as an at-large team. Ike posted 17 points and nine rebounds in the Cowboys’ loss to Indiana in the First Four.
Last month, 247Sports’ Isaac Trotter took a look at how Ike might fit with various suitors and noted that the Colorado native could make a big difference at Gonzaga. The Zags have a lot to replace this offseason as they look to retool their roster following a slightly down season by their standards.
“Replacing Drew Timme would not be easy, but Ike would be a good start,” Trotter wrote. “Timme uses angles and footwork to dominate. Ike uses raw power. Both can absolutely shine in Gonzaga’s scheme. If Ike wants to stay out west and compete for a national championship, Gonzaga could be a really good fit.”
Nembhard’s older brother, Andrew, who was a star guard on Gonzaga and now a member of the Indiana Pacers, was recruited to the Zags’ program by current Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd. Lloyd spent 20 seasons as an assistant coach in Spokane before landing the head coaching job in Tucson.
In two seasons at Creighton, Nembhard averaged 11.8 points per game on 41.9% shooting (33.7% from 3-point range) to go along with 4.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists per contest.
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A former four-star recruit out of Montverde (Fla.) Academy, Nembhard was the No. 69 player and No. 11 point guard from the Class of 2021. He was also the No. 12 player from Florida.
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