Following an impressive start to the AAU season, #ZagClass15 member Jesse Wade has seen his stock soar. He was recently names a 4-star recruit by Scout and just missed out on a spot in the Top 100. However, Wade isn't the only Gonzaga target in the 2015 class out of Utah, as the Zags have also been recruiting Makol Mawien.
With both recruits playing for the Utah Prospects AAU club, we caught up with head coach Lynn Lloyd for a breakdown on both recruits. Today, we will be sharing the portion of the interview around Jesse Wade. Check back tomorrow for more information on Makol Mawien:
TSSF: Jesse was the first commitment for Gonzaga in the 2015 class and got his offer before he really blew up on the recruiting scene. What type of player is Gonzaga getting in Jesse Wade?
Coach Lynn: Jesse is a very hard working, committed young man. He is as competitive as any kid we have had in our program. The entire Wade family fits this mold.
TSSF: Gonzaga has a lot of success with elite point guards that can shoot from the perimeter. How did the use of guys like Kevin Pangos, Derek Raivio and Dan Dickau impact a guy with a skill set like Jesse?
Coach Lynn: Jesse has always been able to score. We challenged him last summer to develop a more well rounded game, not necessarily a pass first attitude, but a get everyone involved attitude and he has done that very well this past year. Jesse is needed to score on his high school team, so this new skill set will benefit his future. Jesse has great range, the ability to get his shot against much bigger defenders, and takes pride in playing defense.
TSSF: Gonzaga has a lot of success with elite point guards that can shoot from the perimeter. How did the use of guys like Kevin Pangos, Derek Raivio and Dan Dickau impact a guy with a skill set like Jesse?
Coach Lynn: Jesse will fit perfectly into to the Gonzaga system. He can shoot it, pass it and defend. He cares more about winning than personal accolades.
TSSF: With Jesse being LDS and having lots of interest from BYU, Utah and Utah St., how surprised were you when he elected to go out of state and commit to Gonzaga?
Coach Lynn: Jesse's High School team attended Gonzaga Team Camp last summer. He had the opportunity to play with some of the Gonzaga players at night after camp. This really helped his confidence, and made him feel comfortable with the program. Gonzaga was on him after his Sophomore season. I tell kids, go where they want you the most, and where you can contribute at a high level. Coach Daniels was very diligent in his recruiting of Jesse