Will Braden Huff see the floor for the Gonzaga Bulldogs in 2023-24?
As a redshirt freshman, Braden Huff's name and game weren't too familiar to Gonzaga men's basketball fans last season.
But after spending all of last season dealing with Drew Timme, Anton Watson and Ben Gregg as a member of the practice squad, the 6-foot-10 forward earned praise as the "most annoying redshirt" Timme has ever played against. Now he'll compete for minutes in Mark Few's likely eight-man rotation for the 2023-24 season.
Huff committed to Gonzaga when it was unclear whether Timme would return for his senior season. Not only did the All-American return, but the Zags also brought in Efton Reid III from LSU, making it that much harder for Huff to see the floor as a freshman. So while the rest of the country had their hands full with Gonzaga's frontcourt, Huff prepared, competed and learned from the more experienced big men every day in practice.
Timme departed for the NBA and Reid transferred to Wake Forrest in the offseason, but Huff finds himself in a similar position heading into his redshirt sophomore season.
Few added Wyoming transfer, and likely starting center, Graham Ike and brought back Watson for a fifth year. With junior forward Ben Gregg also back in the fold, Huff's opportunity off the bench will depend on his progression over the summer, both on the court and in the weight room.
The former four-star recruit and 2022 Illinois' Mr. Basketball has the potential to be a difference maker on both ends of the floor with his ability to shoot the 3 and protect the rim on defense. He has the necessary court vision to play the "high" man in high-low offensive sets against zone defenses with his court vision. Listed at 235 pounds, Huff has the size and frame to compete against other low-post forwards in the West Coast Conference — especially after battling Gonzaga's bigs all last season in practice.
Huff nearly had the perfect senior season at Glenbard West, where he led the school to its first 4A state championship and took home state player of the year honors. He averaged 16.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.3 steals and shot 61% from the field.
Now, he'll look to join a lengthy list of Bulldogs who have benefitted from redshirting. Old transfer rules forced Kyle Wiltjer, Nigel Williams-Goss and Brandon Clarke to redshirt. Kelly Olynyk was an All-American after a yearlong hiatus.
With Ike and Watson projected to start in the frontcourt, Huff could be featured in a role off the bench alongside Gregg. But position needs aside, Huff will likely compete for minutes against a handful of newcomers. Gonzaga added Croatian Luka Krajnovic in the offseason, while Jun Seok Yeo and Dusty Stromer also look to see the floor for the first time as Bulldogs.
