Chet Holmgren Recalls Playing Alongside Gonzaga Bulldogs Star Jalen Suggs In High School

The Gonzaga Bulldogs recruited a sensation in Jalen Suggs last season. He might have been the missing piece the Bulldogs have needed to go from pretenders to contenders. The program has been to every level of March Madness, but has never stood tall as champions. However, this year’s undefeated behemoth of a team stands a great chance.

They are led on the court by guard Jalen Suggs. Suggs is expected to be a top-five pick in next year’s draft. A possible future #1 pick in Chet Holmgren played high school basketball alongside Suggs in Minnesota and revealed to ESPN how it was like to play with him.

READ MORE: Should Gonzaga Bulldogs’ Jalen Suggs Be #1 Pick In 2021 NBA Draft Ahead of Cade Cunningham?

“I spent a lot of time on the bench in my early years watching him. What he could do from such a young age was crazy. Being able to watch what he could do from such a young age was kind of crazy. We were third-graders playing sixth-grade basketball. And he’s still putting up 25 points on people that are like three, four years older than him. He’s been good since day one.”

Holmgren spoke about the night Suggs scored 23 points in a win over Sierra Canyon, featuring LeBron James’s son, Bronny James. “That game against Sierra Canyon, I saw him locked in on a level I’ve never seen before. There was nothing breaking his focus.”

Gonzaga Bulldogs: Will Suggs lead them to a national title?

The Gonzaga Bulldogs are one of the most exciting teams in the NCAA this season. They have had one of the most attractive offenses this season, which is a credit to coach Mark Few’s system. Few has created a national juggernaut of a team that has produced three players in the running for National Player of the Year.

Suggs is a dynamic point guard that can do almost everything on the offensive end. However, his passing ability is something to behold. While his assist averages are modest, his playmaking ability far supersedes what the numbers say.

If the Bulldogs win a title this season, it will be because of the collection of the parts, not one piece. However, Suggs is crucial in ensuring that everyone can consistently get buckets, so him having a bad game could mean the end of the tournament for Gonzaga.