Bishop Gorman will take on at least four preseason nationally-ranked teams outside of appearances at the Tarkanian Classic and Beach Ball Classic.
Photo by Jann Hendry
Grant Rice (343-65 career record, 14th year)
2013-14 record: 30-3, Division I state champions, No. 10 final national ranking
KEY RETURNERSNick Blair (6-5, Sr., F)
Zach Collins (6-11, Jr., F/C)
Chase Jeter (6-11, Sr., F/C) – Duke verbal commitment
Tanner Leishman (6-6, Jr., G/F)
Richie Thornton (6-2, Sr., G)
Deon Whiteside (6-6, Sr., F)
Stephen Zimmerman (7-0, Sr., C)
IMPACT NEWCOMERSUgo Amadi (6-1, Sr., G)
Chase Nomaaea (6-6, Jr., G/F)
Charles O'Bannon (6-5, So., G)
Julian Payton (5-10, Jr., G)
GAEL STORYLINES* With the emergence of Collins over the summer, the Gaels now have three elite big men topping out around the 7-foot mark. Jeter is already committed to Duke while Zimmerman is mulling overtures by the likes of Arizona, UCLA, Kentucky, Kansas and North Carolina. Collins shot up 3 inches from his listed height of 6-8 a year ago, helping him catch the eye of programs like Arizona, Memphis, Notre Dame and UNLV. "It's definitely a once-in-a-career situation to have three kids that size with that kind of skill, growing up in the same general area and around the same age," Rice said. "They work well together and get along, which is great, but I also think it's created some competition."
* While the frontcourt is loaded, Gorman will be looking to replace four-year contributor Noah Robotham in the backcourt. Thornton and Payton (the son of Hall of Famer Gary Payton) will be counted on to step up and assume ballhandling duties. Blair is an athletic force on the wing.
* Bishop Gorman has become one of the most consistent winning machines in high school basketball under Rice. Like Mater Dei, Montverde Academy under Kevin Boyle and Oak Hill Academy, the Gaels will be slotted for preseason Top 25s well into the future until results suggest otherwise. Since 2008, the Sin City superpower is 170-23 with five state titles and four national Top 25 finishes.
KEY DATESNov. 29 – vs.
Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland, Calif.) at NorCal Tip-Off
Dec. 17-20 – Tarkanian Classic
Dec. 26-31 – Beach Ball Classic
Jan. 3 – vs.
Simeon (Chicago) at Cancer Research Classic
Jan. 19 – vs.
Montverde Academy (Fla.) at Spalding Hoophall Classic
Jan. 24 – vs.
Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) at Big City Showcase
Feb. 7 – vs.
Etiwanda (Calif.) at Nike Extravaganza
