Twin Cities native Jalen Suggs leaving Gonzaga and entering NBA Draft
Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs (1) celebrates making the game winning basket against UCLA during overtime in a Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Gonzaga won 93-90.[FILE: Michael Conroy/Associated Press]
Former Minnehaha Academy star guard Jalen Suggs announced on Twitter on Monday afternoon that he’s leaving Gonzaga and will enter the NBA Draft.
Suggs led Gonzaga to an undefeated regular season and to the national title game where they fell to Baylor.
Suggs was am All-American, WCC Rookie of the Year and conference tournament MVP averaged 14.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.9 steals while shooting 50.3 percent from the field and 33.7 percent from three-point range. His ability to defend multiple positions at a high level also appeals greatly to NBA executives.
Every mock draft lists Suggs as a top-5 pick in July’s draft, and depending on how the June 22 Lottery shakes out, possibly higher.
It was a monumental day for Minnehaha Academy and Gonzaga. Earlier on Monday, with Suggs in attendance, Chet Holmgren announced he’ll be Bulldog. Holmgren is the consensus No. 1 player in the country in the 2021 Class.