Graham Ike should have been the West Coast Conference Player of the Year last season. Simply put, he was an absolute force for the Gonzaga Bulldogs and dominated his conference opponents. Ike enters his redshirt senior season with plenty of hype having been named to John Rothstein’s preseason All-American team. Gonzaga is currently viewed as a top 10 program for the coming 2024-2025 season, and Graham Ike is a huge reason why.
West Coast Conference Player Spotlight: Graham Ike
Graham Ike by the Numbers
Last seaaon, Ike had the unenviable task of replacing Gonzaga legend Drew Timme. Timme is the program’s all-time leading scorer and one of the great low post scorers the game has seen. With that being said, Ike was outstanding in his first year in Spokane. With averages of 16.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, there was no doubt Ike has more than earned his place as the heir apparent inside “The Kennel”.
During conference play, Ike cemented himself as the primer scoring threat in the West Coast Conference. Across 16 games, he averaged a conference-leading 18.4 points a night. He scored 20 or more points 11 times and secured three double-doubles. Even if pundits want to hold the level of competition in the WCC against him, Ike still silenced critics with a solid 16.1 scoring average against AP Poll Top 25 teams.
The Big Man’s Strengths
Much has already been made of Ike’s low post prowess on the offensive side of the ball. The advanced metrics also favor the Zags big man. Ike posted the third highest player efficiency rating among power forwards last season. He was also ranked among the top 20 power forwards in offensive rating in the nation as well.
Ike specializes in scoring down in the post where he uses his 240 pound frame and long arms to score over or through defenders. His go-to move is a simple spin to his left hand which he converts at an incredibly high clip. Ike does a great job of not chewing through the shot clock on extended post up touches. Within two dribbles, he makes a decisive move towards the rim where he converted 69.6% of his layup opportunities.
While the individual impact is inevitable, what makes Ike so dangerous is the budding chemistry he has grown with one of the sport’s top floor generals. The pick and roll is the most used offensive weapon in basketball. By the time the season came to a close, Ike had formed an elite tandem with Ryan Nembhard. As the “roll man”, Ike converted just under 73% of his shot attempts. With a top tier playmaker feeding him, Ike is absolutely lethal when setting screens.
Areas to Improve
In today’s basketball landscape, the three-point line is the great equalizer. Every coach in America is looking for the next great “stretch big” who can dominate the paint while pulling defenders away from the basket. Ike came into last season with just 12 career attempts from behind the arc and only three makes. This past season, he took a total of 19 and made seven of them. While the volume was very low, if Ike can effectively hit at least one three a game, it would add a much needed evolution to his game.
On top of shooting, if Ike evolves as a secondary, post-passing playmaker, it will do wonders for the offensive outlook for everyone on the court. With only 33 assists on the year, opposing defensives knew that if Ike got the ball, a shot was likely following. For comparison, Timme averaged three assists a game during his final two years in Spokane. He was an underrated passer out of the high post and double teams. Ike receives similar treatment with teams constantly blitzing him to try and force him to give the ball up. If he can take advantage of when the defense commits, all the other Zags weapons will thrive.
The Last Word
It is time to offer up the first prediction for the coming 2024-2025 season. Graham Ike will be the WCC Player of the Year. He will also contend for an All-American nod as well. Gonzaga plays an extremely brutal non conference schedule. They will see UConn, Baylor, Kentucky, San Diego State and UCLA just to name some high-powered teams. Ike has the perfect opportunity to cement himself among the Gonzaga greats. With a full year of Mark Few’s system under his belt and top-tier chemistry with Nembhard, another 16 point and eight rebound season is on the table.
