Chet Holmgren, recruited for basketball no. 1 HS in the 2021 class, is hired by Gonzaga

Chet Holmgren, the No. 1 senior in the country and No. 1 in the 2022 NBA draft, was hired by Gonzaga on Monday.

Holmgren made the announcement on SportsCenter.

“The process was difficult,” Holmgren told ESPN. “I had a lot to learn on the move. I had to support others and get their advice. My dad went through that and coach Larry Suggs and Jalen. I kept getting consistent advice that I will feel when I know, don’t overestimate everything because everything sounds good, nobody sells their weakness.

“It was [Gonzaga’s] consistent approach, how versatile they are on the field and their offensive style. They take their talent and adapt their system based on their staff. They know how to put everything together. “

Coach Mark Few and Zags were considered heavy favorites for Holmgren if he chose to go to college, but going on the G-League route was also an option. Other schools involved included Ohio State, Michigan, North Carolina, Minnesota, Memphis and Georgetown.

“He’s a very honest stand-up guy,” Holmgren said of Few. “He’s a fan of the game and I’ve heard he’s a good fisherman. He keeps learning about the game and loves what he does.”

A center at Minnehaha Academy, Minnesota, Holmgren paid official visits to Ohio State and Gonzaga before the coronavirus pandemic essentially stopped personal recruitment. He also went on unofficial trips to Minnesota, Maryland and Georgetown. His father, Dave Holmgren, played basketball in Minnesota.

Chet Holmgren is a close friend of a former high school and AAU teammate of Jalen Suggs, who just finished a stellar freshman season at Gonzaga and is a projected top 5 pick in this summer’s NBA draft.

“He had a lot of influence,” he said of Suggs. “He’s someone I know and trust. I’ve had a lot of casual conversations. He’s both a friend and a teammate. I could hear him directly. I’d watch him play and see how the team plays. Then we would talk. It’s a culture where everyone comes willing to work. “

Holmgren had a dominant senior year for Minnehaha last season, averaging 20.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 4.7 blocks while shooting 80 percent of the field. Minnehaha won the fourth consecutive state championship earlier this month, with Holmgren winning 18 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists in an 80-29 victory in the AAA Class Championship game.

Holmgren is one of the most unique perspectives in the game. He is the biggest mismatch in high school and will be in the college game, due to his ability to shoot in 3 points, the inner game and physically measurable. At 7 feet-1, with a huge wingspan, Holmgren is a world-class blow blocker with exceptional instincts to protect the rim. Offensively, he exhibits unusual versatility with his scoring skill, ball handling and ability to catch the lobe. His movements are fluid and mobile, showing excellent coordination and secure hands. He plays with an edge, and his game has been compared to that of Kristaps Porzingis of the Dallas Mavericks.

“[The plan is to] listen and learn and win everything I get, “Holmgren said.” I will be able to use my versatility at both ends. Push it off the glass and leave. I can take advantage of an offensive start and activate the defense when needed. “

Holmgren is the second five-star recruit to join Gonzaga’s class in a few weeks, following guard Hunter Sallis, who was hired at the end of March. ESPN 100 striker Kaden Perry also enters next season, while ESPN 100 striker Ben Gregg graduated from high school early and signed up for the second half of last season. Completing the group is Fanbo Zeng, prospect no.33 in the 2022 class who reclassified in 2021 before returning to China to finish his high school career. Zeng is expected to join Gonzaga this summer.

Suggs became the best-ranked recruit in program history when he signed last spring, but Holmgren is now taking that honor; he is the first prospect to place in front of Gonzaga.

It is another step forward in the emergence of Zags as a real power in the last two decades. Gonzaga failed to make history in college basketball earlier this month, losing in the national championship to Baylor, the Bulldogs’ first defeat of the season. It was the second time in five seasons that they reached the national title.

Few’s schedule has won at least 30 games in five consecutive seasons and has the longest series of Sweet 16 appearances in the nation, the last being eliminated in the first two rounds of the 2014 NCAA tournament.

Gonzaga opened the off-season as team no. 1 in the Top 25 ESPN Way-Too-Early.