5-star recruit Isiah Harwell in attendance for Gonzaga-Santa Clara game
As Gonzaga men's basketball honored senior Anton Watson in his final home game Saturday, a potential future Bulldog was in attendance on an official visit.
Isiah Harwell, the No. 7-ranked recruit in the 2025 class according to 247Sports, and his family had a front-row seat to the Bulldogs' game against the Santa Clara Broncos. The 6-foot-6 Wasatch Academy (Utah) product was originally slated to visit Spokane on Feb. 3 to watch Gonzaga battle Saint Mary's, though he rescheduled shortly after.
"I've seen all the great coaches and the great camaraderie throughout the team, so, and the environment is crazy," Harwell said. "Everything's been good. I like the town, the school is super chill. I like the vibes."
Harwell had already taken an unofficial visit to Gonzaga, which appears to be a frontrunner to land the top-10 recruit along with North Carolina after he visited campus. The Pocatello, Idaho, native is also reportedly considering Alabama, Arizona State and Baylor according to 247Sports.com.
Harwell is the consensus No. 1 recruit in the state of Utah across recruiting databases and is a top three player at his position in the 2025 class.
Nolan Hickman was a four-star recruit and a top-10 point guard coming out of Wasatch Academy in 2021. After initially committing to Kentucky in November 2020, Hickman flipped his decision to play for Mark Few later that spring. Now a junior, Hickman is averaging 13.8 points on 39.9% shooting from behind the arc and has started every game in the last two seasons.
Landing Harwell would be a major get for Few and Gonzaga's coaching staff as a taller and versatile guard who can play off the ball. Dusty Stromer, 6-foot-7, and Luka Krajnovic, 6-foot-5, currently fit that mold and could fill in larger roles down the road. Harwell, as well as 2025 four-star recruit Nik Khamenia, could fit in down the road if Few can land both.
"Over the years, they've had a lot of big guards like Jalen Suggs, so I feel like I can come in and be like one of them," Harwell said.
Gonzaga has also offered four-star wing Efeosa Oliogu in the 2025 class.
