Busy Day for Zag News

- Gonzaga recruit, Brandon Davies, verbally committed to BYU last night. This is not surprising news, as Davies attends Provo high school, which is across the street from the BYU campus. Davies did take an official visit to GU on September 26-28, but even at that point, it seemed there was little chance of Davies leaving the state of Utah for school. Davies will play two years at BYU, after which he will take his Mormon mission.

-I'm not going to pretend to understand the recruitment of Devonte Elliott. It seemed like Elliott was well on his way to becoming a Zag, as he was scheduled to visit during the first week of October. However, that visit was abruptly cancelled, and it appears that Elliott and GU may have parted ways. Elliott will not be attending Kraziness in the Kennel this weekend, and it seems that Coach Few and the rest of the staff have cooled on Elliott. This is a disappointing development for those fans like myself who marvelled over the incredible potential Elliott seems to possess. My guess is that Elliott ends up at Nevada, which he visited this past weekend, or George Washington.

- One recruit who will be attending Kraziness in the Kennel is Brett Kingma. Kingma, a member of the class of 2011, is a star PG from Mill Creek, Washington. Kingma sounds like the ideal recruit for Mark Few, as he is self-confessed gym rat and comes from a family of basketball players. From what I have read about Kingma, his game sounds very similar to Dan Dickau, who was an All-American at Gonzaga. In fact, Kingma scored 32 points in his first game for the Jackson high school basketball team. Despite his gaudy scoring numbers, Kingma is very smart with the ball, and has all the intangibles to be a high-level point guard.

Here are some highlights of Kingma....I am blown away by his jumper

- GU starts the season ranked #7 in Andy Katz's preseason top 25. Here is what Andy had to say about the Zags.

"Gonzaga

Update: Austin Daye didn't tear his ACL. That was originally the fear when Daye got hurt in July in Akron. Had that occurred, the Zags would surely have slid this season. But Daye is back and so is Jeremy Pargo at the point. So, too, are Josh Heytvelt in the middle and Matt Bouldin and Steven Gray making shots on the wings. The Zags are also hungrier after being stunned by Davidson in the first round of the NCAAs.

Concern: Daye and Heytvelt are back, but both are coming off summer injuries, so durability will be an issue.

Nonconference highlights: The Zags have always played games worth watching. Gonzaga plays in the loaded Old Spice Classic in Orlando; Connecticut in Seattle; Arizona in Phoenix; Tennessee in Knoxville; Washington State in Pullman; and an in-WCC game against Memphis in Spokane."

TKR's Take: Katz doesn't really provide GU fans with anything they didn't know before. Obviously durability will be an issue, but I think it is clear that if this team can stay healthy, then we will be watching the best team GU has ever had. What I found more interesting about Katz's top 25, was the inclusion of St.Mary's. If the Gaels and USD can live up to their preseason hype, then the WCC will not have such a negative effect on GU's RPI. This could have a huge impact on the Zags receiving the coveted 1 or 2 seed in the west bracket.

Davies Done With Gonzaga

It's time to turn are attention to Devonte Elliott and Daequon Montreal. After a visit to Spokane last weekend, Brandon Davies has officially eliminated GU from his list of potential suitors. The star power forward from Provo, Utah announced that he has cut his list to Cal, Utah St., and BYU.

Here is a quote from Davies on his recruitment-

"It is just a matter of deciding whether I am going to stay home or go out of state," Davies told Faraudo, who covers Cal basketball. "If I go out of state, [California] is where I am going."

This is not surprising, as it has seemed that it would be nearly impossible to get Brandon out of Utah. While he is certainly a skilled player, his visit to Spokane was not enough for him to consider spending the next 4 years here. This is not an insult to either party, but Brandon was not a good fit for the team, and both sides recognized this.

GU fans can now turn their focus to the visit of Devonte Elliott this weekend. Elliott is an incredibly athletic and talented SF/PF, who could be a star after a couple of years in the program. I would not be surprised to see the staff throw everything they have towards Elliott, and really push for a commitment this weekend. At this point, we are the only scheduled visit for Devonte, and securing a verbal from him would be enormous. It is safe to say that Elliott is the priority for the fall signing period, with Daequon Montreal being the priority for the spring period.

If You See This Man...

Tomorrow is a big day for Mark Few and the staff.

Brandon Davies out of Provo High School will be taking his official visit to the city of Spokane tomorrow. The 6'9'' forward has become a hot commodity in the past few months and has seen his recruitment skyrocket.

As of right now he has to be priority #1a (Devonte Elliott is 1b) for the Zags but there are plenty of doubts about the likelihood that Davies winds up a Zag.

BYU seems to be the front runner with Utah State trailing and Cal and Gonzaga somewhere in the picture. He likes GU enough to visit so hopefully Coach Few and the staff can make miracles happen and gather a commitment from Brandon.

Students, keep your eyes peeled this weekend and make him feel welcome. He would be an outstanding addition to the squad.

Learning More About Brandon Davies

With his visit on Friday fast approaching, TKR thought that it would be smart to learn more about Brandon Davies. While he is obviously held in high regard by the coaching staff, Davies remains somewhat of a mystery to GU fans. TKR was able to interview John Coon, who is a writer for the Desert News in Salt Lake City, Utah. John covered Provo High School and Brandon last season, and was able to share some of his knowledge regarding Brandon with us. We would like to thank John for taking the time to do this interview, and for providing very insightful answers.

TKR: Could you please describe Brandon's game for us. What are his greatest strengths and greatest weaknesses?

John Coon: Davies is athletic, good around the basket and has a nice short-range jumper. He has good hands and feet. He probably needs to extend his range a little bit and his lateral movement could be quicker. But, overall, he has the kind of skills to help any team.

TKR: This summer has seen Brandon's recruiting stock really take off. What do you think are the reasons behind his sudden emergence as an elite prospect?

John Coon: I think college scouts are really starting to see his athletic potential. Davies was a force inside during Provo High’s most recent playoff run. He held his own against big men like Ben Aird, who is now a freshman at Utah Valley. Davies is maturing physically and that, combined with his height and skills, is only making him all the more desirable to top teams out west.

TKR: Do you think Brandon is physically and mentally prepared to contribute at the collegiate level as a freshman?

John Coon: In all honesty, it may take him a year or so to develop into a starter. I could see him being someone that could give you 10-15 minutes off the bench as a freshman. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. If he goes to a team like Gonzaga, for example, there’s no reason for him to be forced into playing major minutes right away with the depth on the team.

TKR: Where have you seen the greatest growth in Brandon's game since you began watching him?

John Coon: The biggest change in Davies has been confidence. He just knows he can go out there and hold his own against anyone at his position. It shows in his big-play ability and in his communication with teammates on the court.

TKR: How much pressure is there on Brandon from the community (i.e. friends, family, coaches) to remain in-state for college, especially to attend BYU since he is a member of the LDS church?

John Coon: If you look at it on paper, BYU would seem like a perfect fit for Davies given the fact that Provo is his hometown and he would probably flourish in Dave Rose’s offense. It also doesn’t hurt that it is an LDS-run university. I don’t think that the Cougars are his only in-state option though – especially if he is set on serving an LDS mission. Utah State coach Stew Morrill has recruited plenty of players in the past who have served LDS missions, including, most recently, Jaycee Carroll. If religion is a deciding factor, the Aggies are as much in the hunt as the Cougars.

TKR: Have you been able to gauge how strong Brandon's interest in Gonzaga is? How long has Gonzaga been recruiting him? Did coach Giacoletti show any interest in Brandon when he was coaching at Utah?

John Coon: Davies has serious enough interest that he is planning a visit to the Gonzaga campus this weekend. The Zags have been after him almost from the beginning. Since he really didn’t emerge as a star until the 2007-08 season, I doubt Giacoletti knew much about Davies. But I’m sure he was familiar with the quality program at Provo High – which has won two straight 4A state titles in Utah.

TKR: Brandon has narrowed his list to 5 schools, Gonzaga, Cal, BYU, Utah St., and Arizona. If you could, what odds would you give each school of landing Brandon and why?

John Coon: BYU definitely has the best odds of landing him. His family lives in Provo. The university correlates with his LDS beliefs – an important factor if he is set on serving a mission when he turns 19. The Cougars also have a former Provo High teammate on the roster in Chris Collinsworth.

Utah State is definitely in the mix for his services. Davies was impressed with the program and the coaching staff during his campus visit two weeks ago. With his size and athleticism, he would be a contributor right away – something that would be appealing to any incoming freshman.

California is on par with the Aggies. Davies said he likes both schools equally. And the Bears are definitely serious on landing him. Mike Montgomery has already made a personal visit to the Davies’ home.

Davies could cool on Gonzaga if he is worried about 6-foot-9 forward Sam Dower committing to the Zags. Coaches have assured him, from what I understand, that bringing Dower aboard won’t affect his inclusion in the team’s long-term plans. But whether or not Davies believes that remains to be seen.

Arizona is definitely a longshot at this point. The Wildcats have reportedly cooled toward Davies in recent weeks and I can't see him being a good fit under Lute Olsen.

TKR's Take: It seems that it will take some impressive work by Coach Few and the rest of the staff to get Davies out of Utah. His proximity to the BYU campus, and his religious beliefs, make it seem like staying in state is a natural fit for Brandon. There is no denying that Brandon is a highly athletic and talented player, but at this point I would be surprised to see him in a GU uniform next season.

What do you take from this interview? Where do you think Brandon ends up next season? TKR would love to hear from you, so please leave a comment, as we value everything our readers have to say

Brandon Davies in Four Days...

The big man from Provo High School in Utah will be visiting Spokane this Friday, September 26th. This marks the second visit for the staff this month. Sam Dower visited the weekend of September 5th and committed to the Zags immediately.

Zag fans are hoping for similar results with the visit of Davies will definitely be a tough get for the Bulldogs. Mark Few and the staff are battling with Utah, Utah State, BYU, and Cal for Davies' services. As of right now BYU has to be considered the leader.

The Zags will also be hosting California hoopster Devonte Elliott on October 4-6.

TKR will be bringing you an excellent interview tomorrow regarding Brandon Davies that should answer a lot of questions.








-- In other recruiting news, Rivals.com had an interesting article regarding prized big men heading to smaller schools outside the BCS realm. Recent Zag commit Sam Dower was mentioned in this article. Dower, along with two other top 150 recruits, have decided to forgo the power conferences for a smaller atmosphere.

It is a very interesting piece and definitely has some merit as many small schools are using their location and the state of "big-time" college basketball to their advantage. Many BCS schools are dealing with coaching changes or scandals which send prep stars to smaller schools. With their NCAA history, Gonzaga is not a small basketball school by any means but Justin Young of Rivals does an outstanding job showing this recent and growing trend in college basketball.

TKR 2009 Recruit Breakdown: Brandon Davies

Former Zag prospect and current Oregon State commit Joe Burton is the tenth ranked center in the West for 2009 as ranked by Scout.com. Brandon Davies is ranked ahead of him at ninth. For quite some time Burton was big on the Zags radar and then suddenly he disappeared and committed to a team that has been nothing but terrible in recent years. It looks like we finally figured out why our recruitment of Joe Burton cooled and that reason is Brandon Davies. The big man from Provo, Utah has burst on the scene in a big way.

Measurements: 6'9'', 215 lbs

Scholarship Offers and Visits: Along with an offer from Gonzaga, Davies has a number of other scholarship offers. He has been offered by BYU, Utah, Utah State, Cal, and Arizona. Davies has already visited Cal and Utah State. He will be visiting Gonzaga the weekend of September 26th. He also plans on visiting BYU in a few weeks.

Rankings: Rivals- 3 Star
Scout- 4 Star
Scouts Inc- Rated a 68

Teams: Davies plays high school basketball for Provo High School and travels during the summer time with Utah Pump N Run

Quotable: "If Davies was playing at Westchester in Los Angeles, he'd be ranked as one of the top players in the country." a scout said to Scout.com's Greg Hicks.

Strengths: Rarely do you see a player burst on the scene as quickly as Brandon Davies has. In April 2008, Scouts Inc. said that Davies would be a nice mid-major player. Over the summer he proved that he can excel at the major level if he chooses to. The main reason for his jump in recruiting can be attributed to his offensive skill set. Davies is very skilled in the post and rarely loses his post position. He has very soft hands and is able to enforce his will in the paint as he possesses a very fluid hook shot. Usually when players are excellent with their back to the basket they tend to be a little more suspect with their face up game. This is not the case with Brandon Davies as he is a very versatile big man. He has the ability to penetrate from the wing and can dribble without the crowd having to hold their breath. One of my favorite things about him is that he is confident that he can finish around the basket with both hands, something rare among high school players. Everything related to fundamentals Davies does well. He possesses a great feel for the game of basketball and has great footwork. He definitely feels like a player that can have an instant impact if he does in fact become a Zag.

Room for Improvement: Brandon Davies recently turned 17 years of age which means two things. Of course he has some weaknesses in his game but because of his age, he has plenty of time to correct his flaws. Brandon Davies will never wow you with superb athleticism. By no means is Davies a slouch; he is a meticulous student of the game who uses fundamentals to excel. Davies will also have to improve his speed and quickness if he wants to play at a high level especially if he plays at Gonzaga or in the PAC-10. He will face post players much quicker than he is and will have to increase his lateral speed. I have little question that he will be able to do this. At 215 pounds he still has some growing to do and once he fills in to his body he will become even more dominant. To be honest, there are only a few glaring weaknesses about Mr. Davies. An interesting side note that has no relation to basketball is his faith. Davies is a Mormon and he has the option to serve on a two year mission if he chooses to. Davies will not have to go on this mission until his second year of college is complete but the mission is definitely something that will have to be addressed.

Recruiting Forecast: Davies seems to be completely open at this point. Arizona has recently came into play which means that Lute Olsen does not believe Davies will be a one and done player. Many high school players from Utah choose to stay close to home especially if they are in the Mormon faith. For this reason it seems that the Utah schools have an advantage but Davies is visiting soon and I have full confidence that Few and the staff will give him nothing but the star treatment. There are a whole bunch of twists and turns with Brandon Davies but he is a very exciting prospect and whoever gets him will be very lucky.

Today's Zag Tracks....

-- First and foremost, the big visit of Sam Dower is rapidly approaching. Dower will be arriving on campus this weekend. Mark Few has his shot to impress Dower before he goes and visits George Mason and Minnesota again. This is the biggest visit of the year as Sam Dower is an absolute must for the Zags.

--It would also be nice to snag Brandon Davies, the big man from Utah. Davies will be visiting September 26-28. Davies, like so many other current Zag recruits came on to the radar very late so a commit from him would go a long way as he has a great deal of upside.

--In a classic way to keep college basketball writers busy, ESPN has covered the WCC in their "Shootaround" series. There is no real news of any value within this write up, just a general wondering about if anyone can dethrone the Zags, how to pronounce Gonzaga, Jeremy Pargo etc...

--A few days ago, Avery Bradley decided to leave the Seattle basketball scene and best friend Abdul Gaddy. It has surfaced that Bradley will now be attending a prep school in Las Vegas. Obviously the driving force in this decision was academics but it is a shame to see such a talented combo of players be broken up. This now makes academic qualification a huge concern for Avery Bradley.... Europe, anyone?