Mark Few and the Gonzaga Bulldogs have some minor consolation after losing in the 2021 NCAA title game earlier this month. The No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2021, Chet Holmgren, officially committed to Gonzaga on Monday afternoon.
Holmgren explained it was a long and laborious process that forced him to learn a lot on the fly and evaluate his best fit. Ultimately, the 7'1″ center pointed to Gonzaga's versatility as a key reason for his decision:
“It was [Gonzaga's] consistent approach, how versatile they are on the court and their offensive style,” Chet Holmgren said, via Jeff Borzello and Paul Biancardi of ESPN. “They take their talent and tweak their system based on their personnel. They know how to put it all together.”
The Minneapolis native had praise for Few as a “standup guy,” but specifically cited his friendship with Bulldogs freshman sensation Jalen Suggs as a major influence. The two were high school and AAU teammates:
“He had a lot of influence,” Holmgren said of Suggs, via ESPN. “He is someone I know and trust. We had a lot of casual conversations. He is both a friend and teammate. I could hear it firsthand from him. I would watch him play and watch how the team plays. Then we would talk. It's a culture where everyone comes willing to work.”
Suggs and Holmgren are unlikely to be teammates, as Suggs is expected to be a top-five pick in the upcoming NBA draft.
However, the Minneapolis roots helped Few land another top recruit. Chet Holmgren will hope to help the Bulldogs have sustained success after their national runner-up finish this past season.
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