Ryan Nembhard, a rising star in Canadian basketball, has become a key player for the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the West Coast Conference (WCC). Known for his skills, the Guard has quickly become one of the standout college basketball players. Ryan played a pivotal role, leading his national team, Canada to a bronze medal at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup. Over seven games, he mesmerized everyone with his plays, averaging 15.1 points, 6.7 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game proving himself as a force on the international stage.

Recognized as a four-star recruit, Ryan Nembhard continues to make a name for himself as one of the top talents in his class, while being ranked the No. 11 point guard. The 21-year-old continues to thrive showing utmost potential. Here’s everything you need to know about Ryan Nembhard.

Ryan Nembhard: A rising star in college basketball with a family legacy

Born on March 10, 2003, Ryan Nembhard is the son of Mary and Claude Nembhard. As some may ask what might be Ryan’s inspiration for basketball, it can be clearly seen that it runs within the family. His father, Claude, was a former basketball player who competed at York University and Ryerson University, and continuing through his legacy is his son and Ryan’s older brother Andrew, who is a professional NBA player for the Indiana Pacers.

During his high school years, Nembhard sharpened his basketball skills at Montverde Academy, a school celebrated for shaping some of the best talents in the country.

During his time at Montverde Academy, Ryan was recognized as one of the nation’s top basketball prospects, ranked No. 62 by ESPN and No. 72 by Rivals. The Guard was part of an undefeated 25-0 season as a junior, while an impressive run, helping the team achieve a 20-3 record in his sophomore year. As a senior, he ended an almost perfect season 24-1 while guiding the team in the GEICO High School National Championship.

In June 2020, Ryan Nembhard decided to commit to Creighton, over schools like Florida, Ohio State, Seton Hall, Stanford, and USC. As a freshman at Creighton during the 2021-22 season, Ryan made an immediate impact, earning the Big East Freshman of the Year honors.

He was named Big East Freshman of the Week six times throughout the season, becoming the most-recognized rookie at Creighton since Doug McDermott, who won the award seven times during the 2010-11 season.

The guard ranked third in the Big East for both minutes per game and assists per game. Nationally the Guard finished 79th in terms of assists per game, placing eighth among all freshmen in the country. Everything seemed right with Ryan until he suffered an injury.

Nembhard’s impressive season took a turn when he suffered a season-ending injury on his right wrist during a road win at St. John’s on February 23. Following that he underwent surgery on February 25. One of his notable performances came in his regular-season debut against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, where Ryan Nembhard made an immediate impact, recording a double-double with 15 points and 10 assists.

In his sophomore season at Creighton, Ryan Nembhard was selected as a Preseason Second-Team All-Big East, earning a spot on the prestigious Bob Cousy Award Watch List for Point Guard of the Year.

He also made a mark in the Maui Invitational, where he was named to the All-Tournament Team after averaging 20.3 points and 4.3 assists, showcasing his standout performance around the Nation. However, the 6-ft Guard entered the transfer portal afterward.

A game-changer at Gonzaga on and off the court

After Ryan Nembhard entered the transfer portal following his sophomore season at Creighton, many assumed he would commit to Arizona. After all, Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd had recruited his older brother, Andrew, out of high school.

The Blue Jays were in desperate need of a true point guard like Ryan, while Gonzaga already had a solid option like junior Nolan Hickman, so to many, it seemed like a no-brainer. However, to everyone’s surprise, he did the opposite and chose Gonzaga instead.

In his junior season (2023-24), Ryan Nembhard earned All-Conference first-team honors and set a new single-season assist record with 243 total assists. He started all 35 games that season leading the conference with 6.8 assists per game and maintaining an impressive 4.6 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Ryan Nembhard made history as the first Gonzaga player to record back-to-back double-doubles with assists since Dan Dickau in January 2001, achieving the feat with 13 points and 10 assists at USF, followed by 15 points and 12 assists at Saint Mary’s. The guard proved that his decision was the right one he made.

As of December 29, the Zags (9-4) rank No.6 in the West Coast Conference, guided by the #0 Guard. In the 13 games he’s played this season, Ryan averages 12.1 points and 3.4 rebounds and helps the team with an amazing 10.0 assists per game, as he is ranked No.1 in terms of assists nationally.

In 2023, Ryan Nembhard’s NIL deal was valued at $87,000 annually, According to on3.com, placing him at #99 in the College Basketball NIL Rank, while his total net worth was said to be $645k.

Ryan Nembhard’s journey from a highly regarded high school prospect to a Gonzaga standout has been truly remarkable. His exceptional skills on the court are commendable from setting assist records to leading his team, making him one of college basketball’s brightest young stars.