Watch: Steele Venters Posts Workout Video While Recovering From Season-Ending Injury

Venters is from Ellensburg, Washington and grew up wanting to play at Gonzaga. He started his career at nearby Eastern Washington, earning All-Big Sky honors as a sophomore in 2021-22 when he averaged 16.7 points while shooting 43.4% on six three point attempts per game, as well as 84.7% from the free throw line.

He followed that up by winning Big Sky Player of the Year in 2022-23 - over then Northern Colorado forward Dalton Knecht - by averaging 15.3 points and shooting 37.1% from deep and 84.5% from the line.

While Knecht followed that up by becoming an All-American at Tennessee and then an NBA player with the Los Angeles Lakers, Venters has unfortunately not set foot on a college floor since then - only appearing in Gonzaga's Kraziness in the Kennel in 2023 before succumbing to his first season-ending injury.

However, his return in 2024-25 comes at a great time for a program that is rebuilding a backcourt after losing Nembhard, Nolan Hickman, Khalif Battle, and Dusty Stromer from last year's roster. The Zags had their worst three point shooting season in the Mark Few era last year, and having Venters back will significantly help them space the floor while giving more room to Ike and Braden Huff down around the rim.

Venters is a natural complimentary piece to Ike, Huff, transfer point guard and facilitator Braeden Smith, and high-scoring transfer wing Tyon Grant-Foster and could realistically compete to play alongside those four in the starting lineup - although the odds on favorite for that gig is Arizona State transfer Adam Miller.

Still, Venters provides a crucial skill-set to this roster and, if his latest video is any indication, he looks more than ready to finally step foot on the Kennel floor for a real game after years of waiting on the sidelines.