Gonzaga Kicks Off Their 2014 Class With Silas Melson

For the past few months, it has become very apparent how important the 2014 recruiting class is to the Gonzaga staff. With several glaring holes coming up following the conclusion of next season, Mark Few needs to land a 'home run' type of class in 2014 full of guys that can come in and contribute right away. Their efforts produced great results tonight as they secured a big commitment from Portland area guard prospect Silas Melson. Melson, who visited Spokane this past weekend, solidified himself as a top prospect with his lights out shooting and his skill set has only grown from there.

Melson's commitment makes sense and is important for a number of reasons. First of all, his style of play and skill set fits Mark Few's system very well. His long-range shooting is what made him a big name on the west coast but he has made a long of strides diversifying his game and he is now a big threat to get to the rim and hit the mid-range jumper. As many know, Gonzaga's backcourt works best with multi-talented guards. Melson will likely be able to run some point as well as being a primary off-guard. Silas is also the first member of the group that will ultimately take the reins from Kevin Pangos and Gary Bell. The talented backcourt duo will be seniors when Melson arrives as a freshman so it will be a perfect opportunity for him to learn from Pangos and Bell.

Playing on the loaded ICP Elite team based out of Portland this summer, Melson is rated in the Top 150 by Rivals. He was received offers and interest from a number of big time colleges and it was noted that his top two were the Zags and Washington.

We hope to secure an interview with the newest Zag commit shortly. For now, enjoy some highlights below: