The biggest stay-or-go name ahead of Wednesday night’s 2022 NBA Draft decision deadline waited until the final hour to make his choice, and it’s a huge win for the college basketball world.
Gonzaga star big man Drew Timme is returning to play for the Bulldogs instead of keeping his name in the NBA Draft.
Timme announced his decision to return in Michael Jordan-esque fashion: “I’m back.”
I’m back
— drew timme (@drewtimme2) June 2, 2022
That’s fantastic news for Gonzaga, where Timme has starred the last three seasons.
In the 2021-22 season, Timme averaged 18.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. He won the WCC Player of the Year award and was named a second-team All-American for the second straight year. And he was even more productive and efficient in some areas in the 2020-21 season, before being joined by freshman Chet Holmgren in the Gonzaga frontcourt for the 2021-22 season. Holmgren is staying in the draft, where he’s in the mix for the No. 1 overall pick.
Timme, 6’10”, wasn’t a lock to get drafted. He comes in at No. 63 on the current ESPN NBA Draft rankings.
With Timme, Gonzaga is now in the mix for being ranked the No. 1 team in the country ahead of the 2022-23 college basketball season. The Bulldogs have finished as the No. 1 team by Ken Pomeroy’s rankings in consecutive seasons, despite coming up short in their efforts to win a national title (they were the national runner-up in 2021 and lost in the Sweet 16 in 2022).
The basketball world has had a lot to say about Timme’s decision to return to school and how it has Gonzaga looking like a college basketball powerhouse once again for the 2022-23 season.
Mark Few and Gonzaga unquestionably the big winner of deadline day. Zags entered yesterday with the possibility of zero returning starters next season. 32 hours later, three starters are back and they're back in the national discussion.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) June 2, 2022
Drew Timme is back and Gonzaga is once again going to be a staple near, or at, the top of the national rankings. https://t.co/rJ8V7w2cmS
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) June 2, 2022
Timme channels Jordan.
Love it.
Gonzaga is going to be stacked. Again. And college hoops will be well-stocked with familiar faces and really, really good players. https://t.co/19Ht9u1vdL
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) June 2, 2022
Potential preseason First Team All-American squad:
Oscar Tshiebwe
Drew Timme
Armando Bacot
Trayce Jackson-Davis
Marcus Sasser— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) June 2, 2022
Timme returning made too much sense.
And he could return for 2023-24 if he wants to.
— Sean Paul (@SeanPaulCBB) June 2, 2022
And there it is. Drew Timme is coming back to Gonzaga. Arguably the biggest news of the withdrawal date. Gonzaga poised for another superb season. https://t.co/x4Sf0fTGsW
— Lukas Harkins (@hardwiredsports) June 2, 2022
Oscar Tshiebwe.
Drew Timme.
Armando Bacot.College basketball has big-time faces of the sport coming back that people recognize. That’s terrific news for the sport’s health, and makes next season super intriguing. Plenty of frontcourt All American talent to pick from.
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) June 2, 2022
