Gonzaga Bulldogs have a deep bench in 2022-23
The backcourt
Coach Few has been fortunate to have some of the best guards in the NCAA. For those currently on the team, it’s a tough legacy to live up to. We won’t know until Few names his starters, so other than Julian Strawther and Rasir Bolton. Everyone else comes off the bench.
Nolan Hickman
Another five-star recruit committed to the Gonzaga Bulldogs, Nolan Hickman, has been groomed by Few to take over at point guard for Andrew Nembhard. The 6’2″ sophomore played in every game last season.
In 17.2 minutes per game last season, the freshman also averaged 5.1 points, shooting .444 from the field, .308 from beyond the arc, and .667 from the line.
The owner of a very high basketball I.Q., Hickman, facilitates the offense’s flow. That is why he is such a Few favorite.
Hickman will be a first-round draft pick whenever he declares for the NBA.
#Gonzaga guard Nolan Hickman putting some youngsters through ball-handling drills at Dan Dickau’s @Shoot360Spokane. Pretty evident Hickman has a knack for teaching. pic.twitter.com/PjWvxIOFcl
— Theo Lawson (@TheoLawson_SR) October 2, 2022
Hunter Sallis
Hunter Sallis is one of my personal favorites. His athleticism is unmatched among the other five-star recruits that came to the Gonzaga Bulldogs last Summer.
Sallis played all 32 games and averaged 13.6 minutes. His game is similar to Strawther’s, although Hunter doesn’t have the same three-point precision yet.
Sallis averaged 4.3 points, shooting 56.4% from the field, 26.3% from three, and 70.8% from free. Once Strawther moves on to the NBA, Sallis will likely fill that spot.
Hunter Sallis. That's the tweet. pic.twitter.com/y0yWi8TSJr
— SWXRightNow (@SWXRightNow) January 30, 2022
Malachi Smith
With all of the talent already on the Gonzaga Bulldogs, another great player fell into their lap. Malachi Smith was the Southern Conference Player of the Year last season for Tennessee-Chattanooga, averaging19.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. From the field, he averaged 49.3%, 40.7% from three, and 82.7% from the free throw line.
Smith is touted as one of the best in the country. We’ll have to wait to see what his arrival means for the returning Bulldogs guards.
Dominick Harris
By far, the player I want most off of the injured list is Dominick Harris. Harris played 25 games during the 2020-21 season and missed the entire 2021-22 season after foot surgery. Coach Few has not announced whether Harris will be recovered enough to play this season.
This will be Drew Timme’s last year with the team, and it seems fitting that this is the year that Timme and Few get their championship.
The Gonzaga Bulldogs rank second in the Associated Press preseason poll. Zags Nation, let’s wish our Bulldogs well as we embark on another fantastic season of Gonzaga Bulldogs basketball.
Related Story: Bulldogs 2022-23 Updated Schedule with Times and TV
Next: Gonzaga’s 2022-23 Power 5 opponents.