Entering his third season at the helm after an acclaimed start to his coaching career at Valparaiso and a short stay at Vanderbilt, Bryce Drew is ready for GCU to become not only the perennial kings of the WAC, but one of the most feared mid-majors in the nation.
A longer discussion for a later time is exactly how long will GCU remain in the WAC and in mid-major conferences all together: between losing rival New Mexico State to the Conference USA in the 2023-24 season and consistently spending well above median budgets within the WAC, it’s fair to question Grand Canyon’s long-term feasibility staying in the WAC.
For example, according to Jim Root of Three Man Weave, last season, Grand Canyon spent about $5.3 million on mens’ basketball, about 250% more than the median budget in the WAC, higher than the median budget in the AAC, A-10 and Mountain West and even more than the Oklahoma State mens’ basketball team.
Reshifting the focus on basketball for this year, despite losing second-leading scorer Holland Woods and glue-guy wing Sean Miller-Moore, 55% of last year’s scoring returns, including four of last year’s top-seven scorers.
In his first two seasons at GCU, Bryce Drew’s teams have been incredibly consistent with offensive rebounding and opponent 2p% and 3p%, ranking within the top-30 nationally in each stat in both of his seasons, so team’s continuity should keep these metrics a staple for the upcoming season.
Key Departures
Holland Woods - 6’1 190 fifth-year graduate, 14.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.1 blocks, 1.7 turnovers, 44.7 2p%, 38.4 3p%, 79.2 ft%, 32.0 mpg
Sean Miller-Moore - 6’4 210 fifth-year graduate, 7.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.5 turnovers, 0.5 steals, 0.2 blocks, 59.7 2p%, 18.2 3p%, 60.4 ft%, 20.4 mpg
Taeshon Cherry - 6’8 225 senior transferred to Marian, 5.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.8 turnovers, 0.9 steals, 0.2 blocks, 49.2 2p%, 27.6 3p%, 73.1 ft% in 16.8 mpg
A selection to the Second Team All-WAC, Holland Woods was the team’s best rim-attacker, most prolific three-point shooter and a capable distributor alongside Javon Blackmon. His dynamism and swagger is hard to replace, but more later on how Drew used the transfer portal to help replace Woods.
Sean Miller-Moore was a team-first glue guy who played at the 3 and Taeshon Cherry was a stretch-four off the bench. Both veterans were major contributors to GCU’s dominance on the offensive boards with each ranking within the top-500 nationally in offensive rebounding rate.
Projected Starting Lineup
PG - Jovan Blacksher - 5’11 165 senior
15.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.0 turnovers, 1.7 steals, 0.1 blocks, 42.7 2p%, 39.4 3p%, 2.0 threes made per game, 73.7 ft%, 3.2 ftas per game
G - Rayshon Harrison - 6’4 180 junior transferred from Presbyterian
17.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.3 turnovers, 1.1 steals, 0.2 blocks, 46.0 2p%, 24.3 3p%, 1.7 threes made per game, 85.1 ft%, 4.8 ftas per game
W - Noah Baumann - 6’6 210 grad transfer from Georgia
8.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.7 turnovers, 0.3 steals, 0.2 blocks, 48.8 2p%, 40.7 3p%, 1.9 threes made per game, 82.5 ft%, 1.3 ftas per game
F - Gabe McGlothan - 6’7 230 senior
9.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 1.5 turnovers, 0.6 steals, 0.4 blocks, 54.5 3p%, 32.7 3p%, 1.2 threes made per game, 73.1 ft%, 2.5 ftas per game
Big - Yvan Ouedraogo - 6’9 255 senior
3.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 1.4 turnovers, 0.4 steals, 0.3 blocks, 46.2 2p%, 0 3pas, 39.3 ft%, 2.0 ftas per game
This starting lineup is led by arguably the best player in the WAC, Javon Blacksher, whose two-way alpha guard mentality will earn him national attention should GCU earns a tournament bid. He’s my preseason pick for the WAC Player of the Year.
With his three-level scoring and ability to attack the rim and distribute the ball, Rayshon Harrison is a perfect fit to help replace Holland Woods at the two spot. He was woefully inefficient from beyond the arc last season, but shot 35.0% from three over his freshman year, so there’s hope that will remedy this upcoming season. At 6’4 with an impressive wingspan, Harrison will provide length at the 2 guard that the Antelopes haven’t had since Carlos Johnson started in the backcourt in the 2018-19 season.
The 6’6 Phoenix native Noah Baumann is an underrated transfer pickup whose career 42.6% shooting from three will do wonders to help space the floor for Blacksher and Harrison to attack. Starting his career at San Jose State, Baumann’s three-point efficiency remained strong against high-major defenses, shooting threes at 38.9% between stops at USC and Georgia.
The incumbent starting frontcourt duo of Gabe McGlothan and Yvan Oueraogo are the stalwarts of Grand Canyon’s offensive rebounding dominance, averaging a combined 4.6 offensive boards per game. McGlothan’s shooting ability allows Drew to play four- or five-out offensive sets depending on who he shares the floor with. With elite strength, a surprisingly good motor and limited offensive skills, Oueraogo is a traditional big whose foul shooting woes make him a risky play in late-game situations with the lead.
Key Reserves
G - Chance McMillian - 6’3 185 junior
5.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.1 turnovers, 0.7 steals, 0.1 blocks, 39.5 2p%, 34.9 3p%, 1.0 threes made, 87.1 ft% and 1.0 ftas per game
F - Logan Landers - 6’9 215 sophomore transfer from Kansas State
75 total minutes played. Per 40 minute stats: 6.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4 for 9 from inside the arc, 0 for 1 from three and 4 for 6 from the line. Was the #291 prospect in 247’s composite rankings.
G - Josh Baker - 6’4 175 senior transfer from UNLV
3.9 points, 1.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.6 turnovers, 0.3 steals, 0.1 blocks, 13 for 22 from inside the arc (59.1 2p%), 14 for 53 from three (26.4 3p%) and 29 for 31 from the line (93.5 ft%). Was 75 for 154 from three in his last season at Hutchinson CC (46.2 3p%).
Big - Aidan Igiehon - 6’10 245 senior
2.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 0 assists, 0.8 turnovers, 57.1 2p%, 1 for 1 from three, 13 for 27 from the line.
W - Walter Ellis - 6’5 190 fifth-year
3.1 points, 1.2 rebounds, 46.7 3p%, 0.9 threes per game, 1 for 5 from inside the arc, 7 for 10 from the line
With addition of Baker, the Antelopes’ backcourt is deeper than last season, allowing Drew to mix and match his guard rotations with four capable scorers and distributors. Reprising his role as one of the first players off the bench, Chance McMillan is a capable shooting combo guard who will get valuable minutes at the 2 and 3 guard spots.
Able to play anywhere between the 1 and 3 spots, Josh Baker’s offensive game is reminiscent of former Purdue and new Florida Gulf Coast guard Isaiah Thompson: almost all of his shot attempts are from deep and he limits turnovers.
Logan Landers is arguably the biggest threat to earn playing time over Oueraogo. Originally picking Kansas State over Kansas, USC, Iowa, TCU, Miami, Missouri, Houston and Texas A&M, Landers is a skilled big man who can shoot, pass and he loves to rebound. According to Kansas State's official announcement of their signing of Landers, he was quoted “The thing that I want to develop the most (in college) is that ruthless mindset of grabbing every single rebound that I can and when I get it in the post just being an absolute bully," said Landers. "I want to do all the stuff that most people don't like to do. I want to get the rebounds. I want to do the dirty stuff that a lot of people don't like to do that will make me a better player and a better teammate to help us win games."
Primed to continue their depth roles this upcoming season, Aidan Igiehon will compete for minutes at the 5 while Walter Ellis is a similar player to Noah Baumann and will be a valuable shooter off the bench.
The Bench
G - Kobe Knox, 6’5 195 redshirt freshman from Tampa, FL
Three-star recruit and ranked #427 in 247’s composite rankings. Picked GCU over Siena and North Florida
W - Isaiah Shaw, 6’7 190 redshirt freshman from Rome, Italy.
GCU was Shaw’s only D1 offer
F - Isaiah Carr, 6’11 210 freshman from Las Cruces, NM
Picked GCU over Lehigh, Little Rock and Western Illinois
F - Derrick Michael Xzavierro, 6’9 215 freshman from Jakarta, Indonesia
GCU was Xzavierro’s only D1 offer. Indonesia’s first Division 1 basketball player.
Summary
Despite losing Holland Woods, it’s fair to argue that GCU is deeper and even better than last season. Baumann improves the team’s shooting, Landers adds much needed competition to the frontcourt and the combo of Harrison and Baker gives Drew four capable ball-handlers and distributors.
The WAC is deeper than it has ever been, but I expect most to pick GCU as the conference favorites. An opening night tilt against reigning Big Sky champs Montana State will be a solid challenge while non-con matches against Wichita State, North Texas and either Northern Iowa/San Francisco are good litmus tests prior to conference play.
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