Former Creighton level guard Ryan Nembhard, ESPN’s No. 2 participant within the NCAA switch portal, has dedicated to play at Gonzaga subsequent season, he advised ESPN on Friday.
Nembhard is taken into account one of many prime level guards returning to varsity basketball and can instantly be a contender for WCC participant of the yr honors, offering the Zags an enormous enhance as they transition out of the Drew Timme period.
The 2021 Massive East freshman of the yr, Nembhard averaged 12.1 factors, 4.8 assists and 4.0 rebounds per recreation, capturing 36% for 3 this season. He has began each recreation in his two-year school profession, making back-to-back Candy 16 appearances and dropping to nationwide championship finalists San Diego State 57-56 this season within the Elite Eight on a controversial foul name.
Nembhard mentioned he could not level to any single issue that led him to switch, a transfer that stunned some contemplating the quantity of success his crew loved the previous two years.
“It wasn’t anyone factor,” Nembhard mentioned. “My teammates are nice folks and we clearly have been well-coached. We reached a degree no different Creighton crew achieved. I am very blissful for that and grateful for the way the season advanced. That is actually all I need to say about that.”
Nembhard picked Gonzaga over Arizona, Alabama and UCF.
Nembhard’s brother, Andrew Nembhard, a adorned level guard himself, additionally transferred to Gonzaga (from Florida) after his sophomore season, serving to propel the Zags to develop into the No. 1 offense in school basketball and ultimately emerge because the No. 31 choose within the 2022 NBA Draft.
“After all my brother had been telling me for years what an incredible coach Mark [Few] was,” Ryan Nembhard mentioned. “And it is apparent Andrew was nicely ready for the NBA by Coach Few and all of the employees at Gonzaga the 2 years he was there; he began extra video games this yr as a rookie than another Pacers rookie has began in over 20 years.
“Profitable, improvement, and general happiness are all issues I am searching. Andrew can not help me discover them. I’ve to do this by myself. Gonzaga is the place for me, I can simply inform.”
Andrew Nembhard was recruited to Gonzaga by Tommy Lloyd, now the top coach at Arizona and who was additionally closely concerned in Ryan Nembhard’s recruitment as soon as he entered the portal two weeks in the past.
Ryan Nembhard mentioned his brother’s expertise clearly held weight in his choice.
“The pinnacle coaches at Arizona and Gonzaga are like household to the Nembhards,” Ryan Nembhard mentioned. “They each did a lot for my brother, and due to our tight relationship, I really feel as strongly about them as he does. I knew earlier than my visits to Spokane and Tucson there was no improper reply. Each locations are superb, stuffed with nice coaches and gamers.”
“I additionally thought of UCF and Alabama for numerous causes as nicely and I may see myself ending up at a kind of faculties too. As soon as I acquired house after my visits, I simply considered it and I made a decision to go this route. It isn’t sophisticated.”
Nembhard says his targets at Gonzaga are to “get higher every single day and win plenty of video games.”
“I’ll problem myself to be an elite defender. I am impressed by gamers like Jose Alvarado and Chris Paul. I am unable to wait to point out that facet of my recreation. Then I need to assist quarterback our proficient squad to a tremendous season. Shoot nicely, handle the sport, excessive assists and low turnovers. I do know what Andrew did at Gonzaga to assist his crew win almost each recreation he performed as a Zag. And I see how that interprets to the NBA. I plan on doing the identical factor in Spokane, solely a bit higher.”
Nembhard’s dedication is the second Gonzaga acquired Friday, together with that of Wyoming heart Graham Ike, whom ESPN has ranked because the No. 21 participant within the switch portal.
Jonathan Givony is an NBA draft knowledgeable and the founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a personal scouting and analytics service utilized by NBA, NCAA and worldwide groups.
