Graham Ike Needs More National Respect as a Premier Big Man

When the devastating news broke that redshirt junior forward Braden Huff was going to be out for the foreseeable future, gloom set over the Gonzaga Bulldogs program and fanbase. That was way back on Jan. 15, before the Washington State Cougars matchup in Pullman, Washington, when he was seen walking around on crutches unexpectedly.

In the wake of his frontcourt partner’s absence, graduate forward Graham Ike has brought light to the situation. He is not only pursuing the greatness that past teams in Spokane, Washington, have set the expectation for as a leader of the 2025-26 group, but his own personal goals as one of the foremost big men in today’s college basketball game.

Ike was recently listed as one of the 30 names on the Naismith Men’s College Player of the Year Late-Season Watchlist. The ten semifinalists for the Naismith Trophy will be revealed on March 20 during the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament.

It’s been a season of dominance for Ike, averaging a West Coast Conference-leading 19.9 points per game and putting together 13 double-doubles. That’s tied for No. 13 in the nation, which helped put him in consideration for the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award.

He’s also the country’s active leading scorer at 2,436 career points and second in the nation with 1,101 rebounds. Starting his career with the Wyoming Cowboys in the Mountain West Conference back in 2020-21, Ike has had steady success throughout his illustrious career and grown into a reliable three-level scoring option. He may not be given the NBA shot that he deserves this upcoming offseason, but the lasting impact left with the Pacific Northwest powerhouse will live forever.

Regarding Huff’s situation, Gonzaga coach Mark Few announced he is “just getting ready to be off crutches and walking in a few days.” He’s about five weeks into his eight-week recovery timetable, leading up to a possible return in the NCAA Tournament. That’s far from certain, but one can be optimistic.

A positive step in the right direction for Huff, who is itching to get back to playing alongside Ike as soon as possible.

Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho