Few Make Mark in Player Development Remotely Close to Gonzaga's Coach

December 17th, 2025 - 9:31

Gonzaga was gouged on neutral court by Michigan by 40 points, but has there even been a school not a member of power conference defeating three such schools by at least 27 points in pre-league competition (Creighton at home plus Maryland Kentucky on neutral courts). The Zags also upended Oklahoma, Arizona State, Alabama, UCLA and Oregon on the road or on neutral courts by double digits.

While recently focusing more on transfers, has there ever been a coach with consistent track record for dramatic player development anywhere close to matching Gonzaga's Mark Few? The Zags, capturing outright or sharing 23 of the previous 25 WCC regular-season championships, catapulted to annual high rankings in national polls due largely to significant increases in scoring average from previous season for their top point producers. Vastly-improved Braden Huff is on the following alphabetical list of many Few pupils starting with All-American Dan Dickau at the turn of the century who blossomed under him after redshirt season or undistinguished freshman campaign:

  • Joel Ayayi - freshman RS in 2017-18 and 1.7 ppg in 2018-19 to 10.6 ppg in 2019-20 and 12 ppg as All-WCC first-team selection in 2020-21
  • Casey Calvary - 3.7 ppg and 2.7 rpg as freshman in 1997-98 (when Few was Zags assistant) to All-WCC selection with 19.1 ppg and 6.5 rpg in 2000-01
  • Dan Dickau - 4 ppg as Washington freshman/sophomore in 1997-98 and 1998-99 to transfer becoming NCAA consensus first-team All-American in 2001-02 with 21 ppg
  • Sam Dower - freshman RS in 2009-10 to All-WCC selection with 14.4 ppg and 7.2 rpg in 2013-14
  • Ben Gregg - 0.9 ppg as freshman in 2000-21 to 9 ppg in 2023-24 and 9.1 ppg in 2024-25
  • Rui Hachimura - 2.6 ppg as freshman in 2016-17 to NCAA consensus first-team All-American with 19.7 ppg and 6.5 rpg in 2018-19
  • Josh Heytvelt - 3.4 ppg and 2 rpg as freshman in 2005-06 to All-WCC selection with 14.9 ppg and 6.5 rpg in 2008-09
  • Nolan Hickman - 5.1 ppg as freshman in 2021-22 to 14 ppg as junior in 2023-24 and 10.1 ppg as senior in 2024-25
  • Braden Huff - 9.3 ppg as freshman in 2023-24 to 17.4 ppg early in 2025-26
  • Korey Kispert - 8 ppg as freshman in 2018-19 to All-WCC first-team selection with 13.9 ppg in 2019-20 and 18.6 as NCAA consensus first-team All-American in 2020-21
  • Zach Norvell Jr. - freshman RS in 2016-17 to All-WCC selection with 14.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg and 3.1 apg in 2018-19
  • Kelly Olynyk - 3.8 ppg as freshman in 2009-10 and RS season in 2011-12 to NCAA unanimous first-team All-American with 17.8 ppg and 7.3 rpg as junior in 2012-13
  • Jeremy Pargo - 2.7 ppg as freshman in 2005-06 to All-WCC selection with 12.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg and 4.6 apg in 2006-07
  • Filip Petrusev - 6.5 ppg as freshman in 2018-19 to WCC Player of the Year with 17.5 ppg in 2019-20
  • Derek Raivio - 3.1 ppg and 1 apg as freshman in 2003-04 to All-WCC selection with 13 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 4.8 apg and 1.6 spg in 2004-05
  • Robert Sacre - 2.8 ppg and 1.8 rpg as freshman in 2007-08 to All-WCC selection in 2010-11 with 12.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg and 1.9 bpg
  • Julian Strawther - 3.4 ppg as freshman in 2020-21 to 11.8 ppg in 2021-22 to 15.2 ppg in 2022-23
  • Killian Tillie - 4.2 ppg as freshman in 2016-17 to All-WCC second-team selection with 12.9 ppg the next season
  • Drew Timme - 9.8 ppg as freshman in 2019-20 to 19 ppg as NCAA consensus second-team All-American in 2020-21, 18.4 ppg in 2021-22 to 21.2 ppg in 2022-23
  • Anton Watson - 4.9 ppg and 3.1 rpg as freshman in 2019-20 to 11.1 ppg and 6.2 rpg in 2022-23 and 14.5 ppg and 7.1 rpg in 2023-24
  • Kyle Wiltjer - 5 ppg and 1.8 rpg as Kentucky freshman in 2011-12 to transfer becoming NCAA consensus second-team All-American in 2015-16 with 20.4 ppg and 6.3 rpg