Gonzaga Sneaks into Way-Too-Early Top 25 After National Championship

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Blayne Gilmer | Last updated Apr 8, 2025 9:18 AM ET

Following Florida’s thrilling win over Houston in the 2024-2025 National Championship Game, ESPN wasted no time releasing its “Way-Too-Early” Top 25 rankings for the upcoming college basketball season.

Among the early contenders, Gonzaga lands at No. 20, a ranking that reflects both optimism and uncertainty for the Bulldogs heading into 2025-2026.

The projected starting five for Mark Few’s squad includes Braeden Smith, Jalen Warley, Steele Venters, Braden Huff, and Graham Ike. While the lineup brings potential, only Huff and Ike have proven themselves on the court for Gonzaga. Huff, a 6-foot-10 forward, came on strong late last season and is expected to take a major step forward. Ike, the Bulldogs’ leading scorer and rebounder from a year ago, is back to anchor the front court.

The rest of the lineup is filled with question marks. Smith, a Colgate transfer and former Patriot League standout, sat out last season as a redshirt while learning behind Ryan Nembhard. Warley, a former Virginia guard, also redshirted last season and has yet to play a minute for the Zags. Venters is perhaps the biggest wildcard—after transferring from Eastern Washington, the once highly-touted wing has missed two full seasons due to injury.

Gonzaga faces a significant roster turnover, losing key veterans like Nembhard, Nolan Hickman, and Ben Gregg, while young talents Dusty Stromer, Jun Seok Yeo, and Michael Anaya have all left via the transfer portal. The status of the remainder of the roster for next season remains in flux with Gonzaga looking to reload in the transfer portal at guard and forward.

As it stands, Gonzaga will need its backcourt to step up in a big way, but, as mentioned, the coaching staff is expected to remain aggressive in the transfer market. With a blend of experienced frontcourt players and new faces in the backcourt, the Bulldogs are a team with much to prove entering next season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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