MaxPreps Preseason High School Basketball Top 25: No. 17 Gonzaga

By Jordan Divens Nov 6, 2019, 9:15am

Eagles competes against loaded national schedule with youthful, but strong returning core.

Video: Preseason Top 25 basketball rankings
Breaking down the national contenders heading into the 2019-20 season.


Head Coach: Steve Turner
Last Season: No. 60 in final Top 100, 28-9 (WCAC tournament champions)

Key Contributors:
Devin Dinkins (5-10, So., G)
Malcolm Dread (6-4, Jr., W)
Chuck Harris (6-3, Sr., G) — Committed to Butler
Josiah Hardy (6-6, Sr., F)
Carlos Hubb (6-2, Sr., G)
Judah Mintz (6-3, So., G)
Myles Stute (6-6, Sr., W) — Committed to Vanderbilt
Terrance Williams (6-7, Sr., F) — Committed to Georgetown
Head coach Steve Turner
Head coach Steve Turner
File photo by Lonnie Webb
Key Games/Events:
Dec. 7 vs. Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) — National Hoopfest (DC)
Dec. 13-15 vs. TBD — Gonzaga DC Classic
Dec. 18-23 vs. TBD — City of Palms Classic
Jan. 18 vs. La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.) — Spalding Hoophall Classic
Feb. 1 vs. Rancho Christian (Temecula, Calif.) — Nike Extravaganza
Feb. 7 at DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.)
Feb. 11 vs. Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.)
Forward Terrance Williams
Forward Terrance Williams
File photo by Brian Murphy
Season Preview:
Although this group begins the season as the third-ranked team from the WCAC, the Eagles may have the most potential upward mobility of any team in the preseason Top 25.

A challenging schedule features an early showdown with No. 21 Sunrise Christian Academy, a trip to the City of Palms Classic and meetings with No. 10 La Lumiere and No. 19 Rancho Christian sandwiched between a pair games against each WCAC foes No. 6 DeMatha and No. 8 Paul VI.

After their regular season slate, the WCAC contender competes in three postseason events — the WCAC tournament, DCSAA state playoffs and Alhambra Catholic Invitational.



To compete with that daunting schedule, Gonzaga returns three high-major starters and a number of key bench contributors who will provide the talent and depth necessary to compete with such a grueling slate.

Returning starters Harris, Williams and Stute will be the catalysts, while returning floor general Dinkins also returns to the lineup after starting a handful of games last season as a freshman.

The Eagles have a lot of youth in their rotation this season, but will be anchored by experience in key positions. This team could easily outplay its preseason ranking.