Ryan Nembhard: NBA Material

Gonzaga basketball continues to produce DUDES. This year, many projected no draft picks from the Bulldogs, a rarity in recent years. But you see, they forgot how Gonzaga is inevitable. This time, a familiar name has thrown his hat in the ring, as the NBA may be welcoming another Nembhard. Current Indiana Pacer Andrew Nembhard’s little brother, Ryan Nembhard, earned himself an NBA Draft Combine invite after standing out at the G-League Combine.

He has now taken full advantage of that opportunity. After an impressive showing last weekend, he upped his game even more this weekend with stat after stat, most notably, a scorching 76% shooting percentage across all his drills. Then came the scrimmages. Could he outplay the guys who’ve been ranked above him on so many draft boards? YES.

In his two scrimmages, he made it clear he can play, and even contribute, at this level. In the first scrimmage, he helped his team stay close with 13 points, 8 assists, and a +12 plus/minus. Then today, he followed it up with 8 points and 6 assists. These kinds of numbers in live action could help him slide into a late second-round pick. If he can parlay this with a strong Summer League performance, he could find himself on an NBA roster this fall.

For those who don’t follow college basketball closely, it’s not like Nembhard is coming out of nowhere. He was considered by many to be one of the top point guards in the NCAA, averaging just under 10 assists per game. He’s a proven winner, and Zags fans will surely miss him and his leadership on the court. When he was in the game, we always knew our offense was in good hands.

This all just shows, yet again, the kind of development these guys get at Gonzaga. We’re seeing multiple former Zags become pivotal contributors in the NBA Playoffs, while others find their way to the league through different paths. Just look at Drew Timme proving his worth in the G-League. Gonzaga basketball continues its rise in the world, and history, of basketball, with Ryan Nembhard standing as yet another example of how their unique experience helps players in the present and for their futures.