The Magic Insider

High School Reunion? Could Magic Draft Jalen Suggs Former Teammate Chet Holmgren?

The Magic have the opportunity to reunite Jalen Suggs with Chet Holmgren.

Jeremy Brener

High School Reunion? Could Magic Draft Jalen Suggs Former Teammate Chet Holmgren?
High School Reunion? Could Magic Draft Jalen Suggs Former Teammate Chet Holmgren? /

ORLANDO - A year ago, the Orlando Magic drafted a Gonzaga star who played his high school career at Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis. And history might repeat itself in 2022.

Chet Holmgren
Steph Chambers/Getty Images

Chet Holmgren

Chet Holmgren Jalen Suggs
Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Chet Holmgren, Jalen Suggs

Jamahl Mosley

Jamahl Mosley

Jalen Suggs is expected to be one of the primary players the Magic will build its foundation around. He averaged 11.8 points per game and 4.4 assists in his rookie year, which was shortened to just 48 games due to injuries.

In high school, Suggs developed a lot of chemistry with Chet Holmgren, who could be the No. 1 overall pick in next month's draft.

While past success does hold some weight, it doesn't automatically qualify the Magic to select Holmgren over Paolo Banchero and Jabari Smith, two prospects worth considering with the No. 1 overall pick.

It is worth mentioning the pair have a strong relationship however. Suggs' success with Gonzaga was rumored to be part of the reason why Holmgren committed the very next year to the Bulldogs.

Holmgren would be a fit in Orlando. He can play the four or five and could complement Wendell Carter Jr. well as a high-low combo. He also has a very strong defensive IQ that could make him one of the league's best defenders once he puts on a little more weight.

Chet Holmgren
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Chet Holmgren

Jamahl Mosley

Jamahl Mosley

Jamahl Mosley

Jamahl Mosley

The Magic shouldn't draft Holmgren if it doesn't feel like he is the best player in the draft, but given the tight margins between the top three, Holmgren's relationship with Suggs could be the hair that puts the Gonzaga big man ahead of Banchero and Smith.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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