Taran Armstrong considering Gonzaga after entering transfer portal
The college basketball season is over, but there’s still work to be done for the Gonzaga Bulldogs’ coaching staff.
Head coach Mark Few and his assistants have started evaluating talent in the transfer portal, with rumors showing mutual interest between the Zags and several notable players.
One of those names is Cal Baptist sophomore Taran Armstrong, the top-ranked point guard in the transfer portal according to 247Sports. Armstrong is reportedly down to four schools: Gonzaga, Providence, Creighton and Xavier.
A pass-first playmaker, Armstrong could immediately step in as Gonzaga’s primary ballhandler, something that was arguably missing from last season’s squad. Forward Drew Timme led the Zags with 3.2 assists per game in 2022-23.
Gonzaga being without a primary distributor was a change from previous years, which have seen future NBA talents like Jalen Suggs and Andrew Nembhard serve as offensive initiators.
Armstrong has experience in this role, averaging 5.6 assists per game in two seasons at Cal Baptist. Even while playing in the Western Athletic Conference, his highlight-worthy dimes gained him national attention.
When considering his fit at Gonzaga, Armstrong’s most valuable skills are his elite court vision and high IQ as a pick-and-roll facilitator. Few’s system often utilizes a lot of pick-and-roll actions, something Armstrong would have no problem executing.
Coming off ball screens, his 6-foot-6 frame allows him to see the floor, shoot and finish over lengthy defenders. Armstrong averaged 11.3 points per game on 44% shooting last season. He scored at least 15 points in eight outings, including a season-high 25-point showing against Southern Utah on Feb. 1.
Excelling as a scorer and a distributor was, at times, a struggle for Gonzaga’s starting backcourt. Nolan Hickman and Rasir Bolton combined for 9.3 points and 4.5 assists per game during the NCAA Tournament. Their most apparent struggles in March Madness came at the 3-point line, where Hickman shot 0-for-10 and Bolton was 4-for-13.
Armstrong’s 3-point shot is still developing, but so far in his career he has hovered around 30% on roughly three attempts per game. While those aren’t above-average numbers, Gonzaga’s coaching staff has a reputation for turning mediocre shooters into elite snipers.
One example is Bolton, who shot 31.4% from deep in his final season at Iowa State before coming to Spokane, where he shot 42.5% as a senior and graduate student. A similar thing happened to Nembhard, as he connected on 32.7% of his 3s at Florida, but was 38.8% during his senior season for the Zags.
While Gonzaga’s reputation alone could attract Armstrong, it isn't the only factor that could bring him to the Lilac City.
Armstrong and incoming Gonzaga freshman Alex Toohey both played at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, Australia, which hosts the Centre of Excellence program and the NBA Global Academy.
The pair also competed together on the Australian national team during the 2021 Asia Cup Qualifier. Toohey was the youngest member of the team at 16 years old.
Armstrong hasn't hinted at a decision yet, but don’t be surprised if Gonzaga ends up on a shortened list of his potential transfer destinations.
