The Gonzaga Bulldogs lost a gem in Jalen Suggs this offseason after he declared for the NBA. But they made up for his loss with the commitment of top prospect, Chet Holmgren. Suggs was influential in bringing over Holmgren, who is his childhood friend and teammate.
The Minnehaha Academy duo is currently back in their hometown of Minnesota and are training together once again. Suggs is preparing for the NBA while Holmgren is preparing to enter college basketball. In a recent interview, Suggs spoke about why he loves to workout with Holmgren.
He said, “We don’t like to do a lot of things outside of our circle. It’s just always been the people we’ve ever been around since we’ve been kids. So, to be able to go in the gym together and just get all our stuff done, work together… Whether it’s ones or it’s just shooting competitions, or just pushing each other, motivating each other.”
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“But being able to have someone in a gym with you, you know, you know, high skill level, high competitors as well, that’s awesome.”
Will Chet Holmgren have similar success as Jalen Suggs at Gonzaga Bulldogs?
After entering the 2020-21 NCAA basketball season as a promising player, Suggs left as one of the best. Prior to the tournament, he was an important player, but during the tournament he showed how crucial he is to their success. When he hit that game winner against the UCLA Bruins, he became part of Gonzaga history. Despite not winning the title with Gonzaga, he leaves as a school hero.
Thank you @JalenSuggs2020 #UnitedWeZag
📰Press Release: https://t.co/Rwt0APOSf7 pic.twitter.com/4ZUnXA6N8w— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) April 19, 2021
So Holmgren has a lot to do to follow in the footsteps of his close friend. But he is not short on talent. He comes in as the number one ranked prospect in high school right now, becoming the Zags’ highest ranked recruit. The previous highest was Suggs.
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Chet’s main goal will be to deliver an NCAA championship. The team has come close multiple times in recent years but the title continues to elude them.
✍️✅ Welcome @ChetHolmgren
📰Press Release: https://t.co/yhYvg6dztf pic.twitter.com/6I3pPmKiXx— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) April 19, 2021
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Gonzaga fans would have loved to see them team up once again in a Bulldogs uniform, but sadly that is not happening. It will be interesting to see how Holmgren fits into the Zags system and how coach Mark Few gets the best out of him.
ALSO READ – ‘Bittersweet Day’: High School Coach Proud of Gonzaga Bulldogs’ Jalen Suggs and Chet Holmgren