The slipper still fits (mostly)

Marcus Adams chooses Gonzaga, but what does it mean for the re-tooled roster? Plus, Jose Perez returns to WVU and a Tyrese Proctor deep dive

Author

Riley Davis
July 24, 2023

College basketball is constantly evolving. That’s part of why we do this daily newsletter. If you’re hungry to learn more about rule changes, the transfer portal and more, be sure to tune in for Jeff Goodman and Robbie Hummel’s interview with Dan Gavitt, the NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball.

It airs at 1 pm ET today, and you can watch it here.

Let's get to the news.

1. The latest piece in the Gonzaga puzzle

Even the most vocal Gonzaga antagonists can’t deny its consistency over the past decade. Just check the résumé: The Zags have made eight straight Sweet 16s, won four consecutive WCC Tournaments and have finished top 10 on KenPom the past seven seasons. The only thing missing is that elusive National Championship.

With those factors in mind, Gonzaga’s 2024 outlook looks a little peculiar — not necessarily bad, but more unpredictable and intriguing. It returns just 34.8% of last season’s minutes and one starter in Anton Watson.

Now, in addition to Watson’s steady presence at the 4, the Zags should be set at the 1 and the 5 — arguably the two most important positions in Few’s offense. Ryan Nembhard (Creighton) should flourish in his first year in Spokane, while Graham Ike (Wyoming) has the low post moves to generate efficient and easy baskets.

But questions persist at the 2, the 3 and on the bench. Enigmatic combo guard Nolan Hickman returns for Year 3, and Eastern Washington transfer Steele Venters will stay in-state. But there will be no shortage of competition along the perimeter.

One of the contenders will be the newest addition, re-class freshman Marcus Adams Jr. He committed to Gonzaga over the weekend — days after transferring from Kansas. The 6-8 frosh can play both forward positions and has upside as a three-level scorer.

Adams told the Kansas City Star that he’ll use his one-time transfer option (he’s already enrolled in classes) and will obtain a waiver to play during the 2023-24 season.

So even if he’s not cleared to play this season, his development at Gonzaga will be fascinating to follow. On one hand, his talent jumps off the screen for a team that needs a perimeter boost. But on the other hand, freshmen who re-class typically yield mixed results. Not to mention, numerous highly-touted rookies have struggled to earn Few’s trust. For every Jalen Suggs, Chet Holmgren and Drew Timme, there’s a Hunter Sallis, Pavel Zakharov and Dom Harris.

The Zags still boast one of the highest ceilings in the country. But their fans might have to live like commoners and deal with the uncertainty until the season tips off.

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2. The curious case of Jose Perez

Somehow, someway, West Virginia has nearly completed its roster. The fallout of Bob Huggins’ resignation (and denial of resignation) had the ‘Eers in dire straits a couple of weeks ago. But interim coach Josh Eilert has done an admirable job accumulating and retaining players.

The latest news occurred Friday night when Jose Perez withdrew from the transfer portal.

The 6-5 wing spent last season in Morgantown but didn’t suit up after the NCAA denied his eligibility waiver following a late-offseason transfer from Manhattan. Perez most recently starred for the Jaspers in 2022, averaging 18.9 points, 4.5 assists and 3.2 rebounds.

Because of his build and ballhandling, the super senior offers an intriguing blend of skills — he can post up smaller guards, play out of isolation and serve as a secondary playmaker. However, concerns about how he translates to a high major exist. He played at Marquette in 2020-21, but he saw action in just 10 games and was buried on the depth chart.

Now, clearly, he has since improved. But a seamless transition isn’t guaranteed. For instance, his efficiency in his final season in the MAAC left something to be desired. Despite his size advantage, Perez converted on a pedestrian 53% of his shots at the rim, per Hoop-Math. Additionally, he took a lot of tough shots (41.5% of his attempts were 2-point jumpers) and made just 29 3s at a 25.9% clip. Plus, after placing second in the MAAC in usage, how will he adjust to a more ancillary role?

A MAAC assistant weighed in on Perez’s game and what he can bring to West Virginia:

“He’s good at using his strength and savviness to score the basketball. He really did a good job against us using his body. He backs you down, gets you off your feet and draws a ton of fouls. It wasn’t any crazy play. It was ‘get you moving, give it to Jose,’” the coach told me. “He understands how to get you in the air and get to the free-throw line. It’ll be interesting to see how he uses his size in the Big 12 compared to the MAAC.”

Still, even with some on-court questions, Perez has a year under his belt in the WVU system. At the very least, he should serve as a high-end depth piece. And if he realizes his potential, the ‘Eers will have a dynamic perimeter duo in him and RaeQuan Battle.

3. Proctor’s gamble

The offseason is always a good time to identify breakout candidates — or at least try to. They don’t always pan out, but there’s a shade of hope that fans latch onto as they picture their favorite underclassmen stepping into a featured role.

The optimism only increases if the player shined down the stretch of the previous season. That’s the case with Tyrese Proctor, the starting point guard for the Duke Blue Devils, who will almost certainly be a preseason Top 3 team. Heat Check’s Brian Rauf penned an excellent piece detailing what makes the Australian sophomore so special. Of particular note were Proctor’s numbers in March — a month that saw Duke post a 5-1 record as he averaged 11.2 ppg and 5.0 apg on 42.6/40.9/85.7 splits.

But surprisingly, Proctor elected not to declare for the 2023 draft. As Rauf outlines, a combination of his early NBA feedback and a projected weak 2024 draft class drove him to return to Durham.

His bet will likely pay off, as he looks poised for stardom. Among the attributes that Rauf highlighted, none pop more than Proctor’s ball screen proficiency. He skirts past defenders, boasts tremendous vision and makes live-dribble passes look effortless.

And now, the Duke social media accounts are doing their parts to fan the flames of anticipation:

While Rauf provides a look at the numbers and the film, I’ll share a little more from the perspective of the rival fanbase: Proctor was the scariest Duke freshman guard I’ve watched since Tyus Jones. Especially late in the year, it seemed like he could take over a game at a moment’s notice. (And watching him frustrate my Heels twice only intensified my fear). Hyperbole abounds in the offseason, but Proctor has all the makings of a future All-American.

No Bull

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