Although Gonzaga is still in the midst of finalizing what should be a small 2012 recruiting class, it doesn't mean that the coaching staff hasn't already started to focus on key targets for 2013. After securing a commitment from Gary Bell Jr. as part of the '11 class, the coaching staff has turned back to Seattle with the recruitment of '13 combo guard Zach Lavine.
Lavine has long been a target for Gonzaga and many other schools, as his recruitment really kicked off during his freshman year of high school.
"Gonzaga offered me a scholarship last year during basketball season," Lavine explained. "I was actually in basketball class and they told me to go to the office and that is when I got offered. I started getting interest during my freshman year when I played in a tournament at Bellevue Community College. My team won the championship and I played pretty good."
Since receiving his offer, the scoring guard has steadily been recruited by Coach Giacoletti and Coach Few.
"Coach Giacoletti is the main guy recruiting me," said Lavine. "I talk to him like we are good friends and we talk all the time. Coach Few has come out and watched me. He is a family man and I love Coach Few. He talks to me like I am one of his own kids the guards at Gonzaga have been really good."
With his good friend Gary Bell Jr. set to make his Gonzaga debut in the next month, Lavine is looking forward to seeing more Seattle products succeed at the next level.
"Gary is one of my really good friends," the Bothell product said. "Seattle is not necessarily known as one of the best basketball cities, but we have a lot of guys that play at the next level and in the NBA."
Despite some previous reports that UCLA might be the front-runner for Lavine, he explained that at this point, no school leads for his services.
"UCLA has been good to me and so have all the Pac 12 schools and other schools recruiting me. I feel like they all have been good to me and I don't have any favorites at this point. I have interest in all schools that have been recruiting me."
As he gets set to begin his junior season, Lavine is in no rush to commit. However, he does have plans to head across the state and check out Gonzaga sometime in the near future.
"I feel like I am going to commit near the end of my junior year, but it really could be anytime," explained Lavine. "I am just waiting for my dad to find some time when we can head over to Gonzaga to see the coaches and see that beautiful campus."