Should Anton Watson return to Gonzaga for a 5th season?

Watson is coming off his best season as a Zag and he still has one year of college eligibility

Glue guy. X-factor. Sleepy Floyd.

The list of names to describe Anton Watson’s impact and role on the Gonzaga men's basketball team is as diverse as his skillset on the hardwood. After four years of watching the hometown kid develop as a valuable utility player for one of the most consistent programs in the country, the future holds numerous opportunities for Watson, who still has one year of eligibility left as a Bulldog.

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Coming out of Gonzaga Prep in Spokane as a four-star recruit, Watson’s size and length were coveted from day one, though injuries derailed a promising freshman campaign. He was used sparingly off the bench as a defensive-minded forward, yet a shoulder injury forced him to miss the final 14 games of the 2019-20 season.

Anton Watson, Jalen Suggs and Julian Strawther / Photo by Gary A. Vasquez, USA TODAY Sports

While Watson spent the offseason recovering from surgery, the Zags reloaded. A guard-heavy roster and small-ball lineups took Watson in and out of the starting five. He came off the bench for the final 13 games of the season as the Zags fell one win short of a National Championship and an undefeated season.

By his third season, Watson continued to develop into a well-rounded player as his offensive repertoire expanded and his opportunities increased. Averaging 18.1 minutes per game, he scored in double figures 12 times and racked up three double-doubles as the No. 1 scoring option off the bench. Defensively, he finished top-10 in the conference with 1.3 steals per game.

Anton Watson cuts a piece of the net after a game against the Santa Clara Broncos at McCarthey Athletic Center / Photo by James Snook, USA TODAY Sports

As a senior, Watson averaged a career-high 11.1 points and 6.2 rebounds, earning him an All-WCC honorable mention nod. He posted the best two-point field goal percentage in the conference while guarding the opposition’s most-skilled offensive player night in and night out.

Now, the senior has a choice. Watson has yet to announce his future aspirations, whether to return to Gonzaga for one final ride, transfer, test the NBA draft waters or potentially play professionally overseas.

Though scouts admire Watson’s size, athleticism and basketball IQ, his NBA options may be limited. Most mock drafts don’t include the 6-foot-9 forward among the likes of his teammates Drew Timme and Julian Strawther, both of which hover around the late-first or early-second-round picks. NBADraft.net projected Watson to go No. 60 overall in its recent mock.

Watson could exercise his fifth year of eligibility if the NBA route doesn’t seem viable. Given the new era of college hoops, there are plenty of opportunities for the Spokane native to cash in on local NIL deals for another year, especially with Timme’s imminent departure. Another year of developing a mid-range and 3-point jumper could put Watson in a better position to turn professional this time next year.

Anton Watson and Malachi Smith / Photo by Ron Chenoy, USA TODAY Sports

Given the state of Gonzaga’s roster, Watson would take on a greater responsibility offensively should he return to Spokane. Efton Reid III, Hunter Sallis and Dominick Harris are all in the transfer portal, while Timme and Strawther are likely heading for the NBA. It’s a long offseason ahead, but a full season in the spotlight as the veteran of a young team could be the opportunity for Watson to make a serious case for being drafted next spring.