Gonzaga Basketball: Josh Perkins Chooses the Zags

Gonzaga’s great summer of recruiting is only getting better, as point guard Josh Perkins has announced his intentions to play for the Bulldogs.

“Coach (Mark) Few and all the coaching staff really showed me that I’m the guy and the one that they really want,” said Perkins. “You have to love who loves you so I’m loving Gonzaga right now.”

Josh Perkins is the coup de grace of Mark Few’s summer recruiting process. Frankly, he could not have seen more of Perkins if he had moved into his house.

Perkins, ESPN’s sixth-rated point guard and 24th-rated recruit overall, is a huge get for a Gonzaga program that had been desperately searching for its next great point guard.

After Gonzaga struck out with guards in the class of 2013, it became obvious that making backcourt play a priority would be key to ensure a balanced squad moving forward—both Kevin Pangos and Gary Bell Jr. are entering their junior years this coming season.

According to an ESPN scout, Perkins is “strong for his size and (an) athletic point guard that competes on both ends of the floor.” As a drive and kick point guard, Perkins is a perfect match for Mark Few’s system.

Perkins also weighed offers from UCLA and Minnesota, and while some speculated that Kentucky might look his way, an official offer never materialized. 

While UCLA and Minnesota are no longer the powerhouses they were just a couple seasons ago, Gonzaga’s ability to out-recruit them for a player of Perkins’ stature signifies the momentum Gonzaga has built up since their No. 1 ranking last season.

This summer, the Zags also secured a transfer of Kyle Wiltjer from Kentucky and received a commitment from Silas Melson, a talented guard recruit out of Oregon. Gonzaga also continues to be actively involved in the recruitment of top players such as Namon Wright, Malik Pope, Reid Travis and Trey Kell.  

Perkins made his intentions as a Zag clear, saying, “I’m hoping I can help that program take the next step and win the national championship.”

Gonzaga’s movement as a program from mid-major looking to making a splash to powerhouse that competes for top spots in the rankings and national championships is complete. With a player of Perkins’ talent coming to Spokane, the future is very bright.

Coup de grâce

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