Will the Zags add a transfer next season?

The Gonzaga Bulldogs have proven adept at attracting graduate transfers in the NCAA for one final shot at glory in recent years. Next season, with the Zags looking like a top 10 team assuming all things go right, they are once again one of the premier destinations for any player looking for one last shot at glory.

There is always room for a Jordan Mathews on Gonzaga.

So far, the Zags haven’t been in touch with too many grad transfers. The Bulldogs have two open scholarships as of right now, and the biggest hole on the roster is finding another point guard to give Josh Perkins a breather. Let’s take a quick look at the transfers that are around.

Zach Johnson, guard, Florida Gulf Coast

The Zags are approximately one of 100 teams that are interested in Johnson, who averaged 16.1 points per game for Dunk City last season. He is reportedly going to test the draft waters as well, but at just 6’2, there isn’t anything particularly special about Johnson from a million other guards entering the draft.

So far, he is one of the few that the Zags have reached out to. With Gonzaga losing Silas Melson next season to graduation, Johnson could slide in immediately at the two spot. That would move Norvell to the wing, where he excelled for much of the season, and provide some insulation to the lineup if either Rui Hachimura or Killian Tillie declare for the draft. Johnson played almost exclusively at the two spot last season, so he wouldn’t provide much reprieve for Perkins, however.

Marcus Carr, point guard, Pittsburgh

Pitt has a mass exodus of players thanks to coaching turmoil in the program. Carr, the freshman point guard, has been contacted by Gonzaga. If he arrives, of course, he would have to sit out a year per NCAA transfer rules.

The Zags need help now at point, but having future help in the spot wouldn’t be half bad either. Jesse Wade has yet to prove he can handle the college environment, and all reports from Joel Ayayi say he is unbelievably athletic, long, and unfortunately, still a bit raw. Carr averaged 10 points and four assists for Pitt last season. He is a bit turnover prone, but he is also a freshman. Hopefully, the Gonzaga coaching staff could get that out from him.

Malachi Flynn, guard, Washington State

This is probably not going to happen, but it is worth following. Flynn didn’t even attract any attention from Gonzaga as a recruit, hell, he didn’t even attract any attention from most schools out there (except Pacific). However, as a Bellarmine Prep boy from Tacoma, Gonzaga has the in-state theoretical advantage, and no conference affiliation with WSU to get in the way. Flynn can ball too. He scored 15.8 points per game this season for the Cougars, generally having to create much of that offense himself. Like Carr, Flynn would have to sit out a year—and he is probably one of the most highly sought after transfers on the market in general.

It is still incredibly early for all of this transfer business. After all, the season officially ended just a few days ago. One important thing to note is that although the Zags have the spots open, they might be more on a wait-and-see approach because of a couple of 2018 recruits still in the mix. Brandon Williams is still in the picture (with Gonzaga making a visit today), and Jordan Brown as well (although he seems much less likely to end up at Gonzaga).