Gonzaga had a big Friday morning, securing commitment from one of the most influential names in the transfer gate as Creighton star Ryan Nimbard committed to the Bulldogs. Nembhard’s commitment came shortly after Gonzaga also added Wyoming’s Graham Ike to his upcoming class, helping reshape the Zags’ roster going into 2023-24.
A former five-star recruit, Nembhard spent two seasons at Creighton averaging 11.8 points and 4.6 assists per game for the Bluejays before hitting the gate in the offseason. His commitment gives Gonzaga Nimbard a second to build on after his older brother, Andrew, played under Mark Feu from 2020-2022, twice earning WCC honors before becoming the 31st overall pick for 2022 NBA Draft.
“Of course my brother has been telling me for years what a great coach Mark is [Few] It was,” Nimhard said ESPN about his commitment. And Andrew was clearly well prepared for NBA by Coach Few and the entire staff at Gonzaga during his two-year stint there; He started more games this year as a rookie than any other Pacers rookie player to start in more than 20 years.
A product of the Montverde Academy, Nembhard was a four-star prospect in the class of 2021 who signed Creighton to offers from Ohio State, Seton Hall and Florida, among others. His older brother signed with the Gators out of high school before transferring to Gonzaga after two seasons.
The younger Nembhard also joined Gonzaga after two seasons at Creighton where he made his mark as one of the most influential key guards in the Big East. He played in 64 games in 64 games and twice finished in the top ten in the league in pass rate during conference play. The Bluejays won 47 games over their two seasons and advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time in the Expansion Era as Nembhard propelled them to a deep championship run, averaging 14 points and 3.5 assists per game in four NCAA Tournament games highlighted by a 30-point blast in Second round elimination of No. 3 seed Baylor.
Nembhard is the fifth player to commit to Gonzaga in the 2023 tournament and the third to pick the program out of the gate, joining Eastern Washington Steel Ventures guard and the aforementioned Ike from Wyoming. Venters was the Big Sky Player of the Year last season and a two-time All-Big Sky event, while Ike delayed last season due to injury a year after earning All-Mountain West honors in 2021-22.
What does this mean for Gonzaga?
Gonzaga has been retooling this season in a big way and is facing more uncertainty than it has in years. Not only has great player Drew Timmy gone, but also second-leading scorer Julian Strother, third-major Anton Watson and fourth-major Racer Bolton. Reserves senior Effton Reid and combo guard Hunter Sallis, both former five-star prospects, will also transfer.
With Nembhard in the mix, Gonzaga can build around a big name and proven product while, perhaps most importantly, anchoring its guard position. Despite building offense to the #1 in Adjusted Efficiency Ratings last season, Gonzaga has struggled to consistently obtain quality playmaking from the lead guard position, with Timme — represented at 6-foot-10 at center — as the team’s leader every game.
Back pace
In 2020 and 2021, Gonzaga finished in the top 10 in the country in average cadence and five in average length of possession offense, winning 59 games and losing just five behind one of the deadliest and fastest offenses in sports. That slowed down a bit last season as the Zags handled both hot and cold play from point guard. Nembhard’s presence could allow Gonzaga to return to his speedy form as it gives them a master gamemaking guard who can distribute, score, and dictate speed at an elite level. Creighton has been a team used to slowing down, but Nembhard should be able to internalize the Gonzaga system beautifully and play at a comfortable pace that allows his team – and him – to thrive in a new environment.
Continued success in the portal
When Gonzaga nabbed the elder Nimbard out of the transfer gate in 2020, he eventually added an eventual two-time WCC all-time performer who has grown into a reliable playmaker and outside shooter for a Gonzaga side that lost in 2020-21 only once all along. Season – in the national championship match. Ryan’s presence may not lead to that much success – Andrew’s success was partly a confluence of successes for Gonzaga including the emergence of Timmy and the arrival of five-star freshman Jalen Suggs – but there is no doubt that he is just as important. Successful results from Few and Co.’s online portal continue. Which over the years has included Brandon Clarke and Nigel Williams-Goss, both of whom earned All-WCC recognition after transferring from other schools.