The leader of the Zags is considered the top point guard in all the land.
The dynamic playmaker is at his best when facilitating the offense and getting teammates involved. Ryan Nembhard has evolved into a smart decision maker and has rarely turned the ball over throughout his collegiate career with Creighton and Gonzaga from 2021-25.
Because of his elite passing/basketball IQ, he leads the nation with 9.7 assists per game through 20 games played this season and has the second best assist/turnover ratio in the country at 4.22.
Nembhard has become a more than capable scorer during his time in Omaha and Spokane. Throughout his collegiate career, he has averaged 12.0 points per game on 42.9% from the field in 119 starts. The Canadian is also an underrated defender who can continuously get in the passing lanes, totaling 136 steals and counting.
In the upcoming NBA Draft, Bleacher Report currently has the lead guard going to the Orlando Magic with the 57th pick in the second round. Despite only being 6’0 and not being blessed with his brother’s size (Indiana Pacers point guard Andrew Nembhard is 6’4), NBADraft.net has Nembhard going to the Oklahoma City Thunder with the 55th pick.
If he can continue to improve upon his three-point shooting, Nembhard will have a respected backup role in the NBA for many years. In 2023-24 with the Zags, he shot a mere 32.1% from deep. In his senior campaign, Nembhard has jumped up to a 39.0%.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on Twitter @a_cravalho