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With Grand Canyon men’s basketball assembling maybe the strongest roster in coach Bryce Drew’s tenure and a non-conference schedule expected to be its toughest as a Division I program, the Lopes might have more answers than questions entering the 2024-25 basketball season.
This week, the Lopes conducted a media session, as they head into their third month of summer workouts. Here are a few takeaways:
Who fills Gabe McGlothan’s role?
Power forward Gabe McGlothan is the only starter not returning from last year’s historic 30-5 season that saw GCU win its first-ever NCAA Tournament game. Back are WAC Player of the Year Tyon Grant-Foster (who is going through an NCAA waiver process seeking eligibility for the start of the season), guards Ray Harrison and Collin Moore and center Duke Brennan as last year’s starters. Forward Lok Wur, instrumental the second half of last season, also returns.
McGlothan, trying to make the NBA Denver Nuggets’ roster, gave the Lopes toughness on the glass and on the defensive end. He also was a steady scorer, racking up points in the paint and beyond the 3-point arc. And he was a leader on and off the court.
GCU shouldn’t drop-off much with 6-foot-8, 215-pound JaKobe Coles having a chance to fill McGlothan’s spot in the starting lineup. Coles came from TCU, where he was a part of three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. He fought through plantar fasciitis, after averaging 14 points in the Horned Frogs’ 7-0 start last season. He ended up averaging 10 points and made 42% of his 3-pointers last season.
Sammie Yeanay, 6-8, 235, a freshman power forward from AZ Compass Prep, could also play a role. He’s added 12 pounds of muscle this summer.
“He comes in with a lot of experience,” Drew said of Coles. “Three straight NCAA Tournament appearances. He averaged double figures. I think, experience-wise, he’ll fill some of that void.”
Sammie Yeanay, 6-8, 235, a freshman power forward from AZ Compass Prep, could also play a role. He’s added 12 pounds of muscle…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/grand-canyon-basketball-summer-takeaways-210846594.html
Author : AZCentral | The Arizona Republic
Publish date : 2024-08-02 21:08:46
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