Gonzaga Basketball: Zags are all-in for awards season
Teresa Powe
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The Gonzaga Bulldog players have played all-star basketball this season. From the Terrifying Trio to the bench, they have garnered much-deserved season awards.
The Gonzaga basketball team had an all-star, undefeated regular season. It is only right they are rewarded for a season of outstanding play. First are the All-WCC awards, where the Zags came up one short of a clean sweep. GU also has the most players on the WCC First Team. Next are the national awards for which they are finalists. To the winners, congratulations! To those finalists, we wish you the best of luck!
Gonzaga West Coast Conference Award Winners
Corey Kispert – Player of the Year
Jalen Suggs -Newcomer of the Year
Andrew Nembhard – Sixth Player of the Year
2020-21 All-West Coast Conference Honors
- First Team: Joel Ayayi, Corey Kispert, Jalen Suggs, and Drew Timme
- Second Team: Andrew Nembhard
- Freshman Team: Oumar Ballo (Baby Shaq!) and Jalen Suggs
Gonzaga National Award Finalists
Joel Ayayi – Joel has been named one of five finalists for the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year award. Along with Ayayi are Chris Duarte of Oregon, MaCio Teague of Baylor, Quentin Grimes of Houston, and Joe Wieskamp of Iowa.
Corey Kispert – Kispert is one of five finalists for the Julius Erving Award. This award goes to the best small forward in college basketball. Joining Corey are other elite players Sam Hauser of Virginia, Ron Harper, Jr. of Rutgers, Terrance Shannon, Jr. of Texas Tech, and Isaiah Livers of Michigan.
Jalen Suggs – Suggs is nominated for the Bob Cousy Award, given to the best point guard in college basketball. Suggs is in some very talented company. Other nominees include Cade Cunningham of Oklahoma State (rumored as the number one pick of the 2021 NBA draft), Jared Butler of Baylor, Collin Gillespie of Villanova, and Ayo Dosunmu of Illinois.
Drew Timme – Timme is a finalist for the Karl Malone Power Forward Award. Also up for the award are Trayce Jackson Davis of Indiana, Justin Champagnie of Pittsburg, Sandro Mamukelashvili of Seton Hall, and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl of Villanova.
The Terrifying Trio – Drew Timme, Corey Kispert, and Jalen Suggs are all on the 2020-21 Top 20 Watch List for the prestigious John R. Wooden Award. The Wooden Award is for the most outstanding player in college basketball. Such an honor for three worthy players.
What worthy honors for such an extraordinary team that has had a great season. This team has been led for the past 22 years by an incredible coach: Mark Few, the Year’s WCC Coach of the Year.
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From Pacific Northwest Sports, we say congratulations to all and thank you for such an amazing season. Good luck in the WCC and NCAA tournaments.