24. Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.)Head coach: Stephen Turner
2010-11 record: 26-8
Players to watch: Jordan Abdur-Ra'oof (6-6, 185, So., F),
Nate Britt (6-1, 165, Jr., G),
Charles Glover (6-0, 170, Jr., G),
Kris Jenkins (6-6, 245, Jr., F), Will Rassman (6-7, 200, Sr., F, Loyola)
Eagles scouting report: Gonzaga carved out 26 wins a year ago with four sophomores and a freshman getting minutes. That experience should pay off this season in the highly-competitive Washington Catholic Athletic Conference.
Nate Britt was one of the WCAC's top performers as a sophomore.
Photo courtesy of adidas
Talk of the Eagles begins with Britt, a five-star point guard prospect and All-Met pick as a sophomore after posting 13.6 points and 5.2 assists per game. He is a member of the prestigious D.C. Assault club program, which has sent its last three point guards to Duke (Nolan Smith, Tyler Thornton and Quinn Cook).
Jenkins, who averaged 13.3 points per game as a sophomore, and Rassman give Gonzaga size and skill in the frontcourt. Abdur-Ra'oof should carve out a larger role in his second season in the program.
In addition to the daunting WCAC slate, Gonzaga will face Chicago's
Whitney Young at the Cancer Research Classic and
Riverside Academy of Louisiana at the Spalding Hoophall Classic. The annual Gonzaga D.C. Classic in December also features a tough lineup, including defending Pennsylvania champ
Neumann & Goretti.
