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The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.
Multiple Zags show promise from behind 3-point arc at Kraziness
- Story byThe Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.
- Multiple Zags show promise from behind 3-point arc at Kraziness
Oct. 3—For the first time in at least a decade, Gonzaga's Kraziness in the Kennel didn't include a 3-point competition, so the Navy and White teams used an entertaining 20-minute scrimmage to show off their perimeter shooting.
The Zags, coming off the worst 3-point shooting season (33.3%) in program history, had no issues from distance Saturday at the McCarthey Athletic Center.
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White, which pulled away to win 56-45, canned 11 of 17 behind the arc, paced by sophomore wing Davis Fogle's 6 of 7. Navy wasn't far behind, hitting 7 of 15, led by Houston transfer Isiah Harwell's 4 of 5 on 3s.
The annual Kraziness event served as the public's first glimpse at the 2026-27 Zags and fans got to see 3-point accuracy that often was missing on last year's squad.
Making snap judgements from a preseason scrimmage isn't advisable, but it was a promising sign when five different Zags — Harwell, Fogle, Florida transfer guard Xaivian Lee, Braden Huff and Florida State transfer forward Chauncey Wiggins — connected on 3-pointers in the scrimmage's first 6 minutes and 8 seconds.
Lee finished 3 of 6 on 3s and the 6-foot-11 Wiggins made 2 of 5.
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Gonzaga head coach Mark Few witnessed improved 3-point shooting throughout summer and fall drills from a revamped roster with just two returning players, Fogle and Huff.
"We've shot it good," Few said. "Actually (Dayton transfer guard) Javon (Bennett, who sat out with a shoulder injury) shoots it really good, so we missed that today. But 'X' (Lee) has shot it good. It was nice to see Isiah step up and make some and obviously Davis has shot it really well."
There's a reason for that. Fogle estimated he put 500-600 shots daily in the offseason, streamlining his form with assistant coach Stephen Gentry.
"Last year I had a pretty good season, but I knew (perimeter shooting) was going to be a big step in my game, not only for college but just for the next level," Fogle said. "Me and coach Gentry really started from zero right when season ended. We were just (taking) form shots, mid-range shots, really trying to keep (the ball) on my right side and eliminate all the moving parts.
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"That, along with me coming back in the gym at night and just repping it out every day, it just became more and more comfortable."
Fogle actually was one of the team's better shooters last season at 35% on 3-pointers as a freshman but understood there was room for growth.
"Literally when the season was over, we started a 21-day program totally rebuilding his shot, down to how he catches the ball," Gentry said. "The big emphasis was it's tight to his body, it's right and he's really driving the ball. He'll hear me say all the time: 'Tight, right and drive.'
"To his credit, he totally bought in, totally coachable. He's got a little shooting routine he goes through every single day as his warmup. He probably knows it better than me at this point."
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The 6-6 Harwell was a five-star recruit on Gonzaga's radar before he spent his freshman year at Houston. The Cougars didn't get the best version of Harwell, who lost valuable development time recovering from a torn ACL as a high school senior.
"At the beginning, I was with Gentry and 'B-Mike' (assistant Brian Michaelson) and we had just been shooting," said Harwell, who made 27.1% on 3s while averaging just under 14 minutes per game at Houston. "Being able to have an actual offseason where I'm not in the training room as much and just being on the court and getting everything going again was nice."
Huff, a 33.3% 3-point shooter last season, made 2 of 3 treys. The 6-10 senior, highly productive and wildly efficient inside the arc the last three seasons, was just 2 of 8 on 2-pointers.
"I took a lot of time working on (3-point shooting)," Huff said. "I just want to first off get more up this year but also make more at a higher clip. It felt good today. I've got to get back to making some hooks and floaters. I missed more than I usually do."
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The season opener against Purdue is roughly a month away, but Gentry, like Few, has seen encouraging signs from Gonzaga's primary shooting threats.
"Xaivian is a way better 3-point shooter than last year's stats," Gentry said. "He's got a good stroke. Javon can really shoot it. There's nothing we're doing with his shot. It's ready to go. (French guard Nathan) De Sousa can shoot it, get a little more arc on his shot. Chauncey obviously can shoot it and get it off, crazy quick. (Izan) Almansa can make open 3s.
"The unique thing is, too, these guys can make 3s off the bounce, which is really important in attacking switching and respecting guys in ball screens. We've had some awesome days in practice and today was maybe a little bit higher than usual, but nothing crazy."
