Wasatch Academy coach Paul Peterson spoke with The Slipper Still Fits for a bit, touching on his experience being around now sophomore shooting guard/wing Isiah Harwell during his time spent in Mount Pleasant, Utah. Harwell transferred over to the national powerhouse that competes in the Nike EYBL Scholastic back in 2022. He played his freshman year at Century High School in Pocatello, Idaho.
Peterson’s initial thoughts on the newest Gonzaga Bulldogs transfer were that he was still raw and learning the game. That sophomore year had its growing pains, but Peterson knew that Harwell would eventually blossom into the total package as a five-star recruit. It just took a duration over the course of three seasons, and he went through different phases as a competitor.
“I think being a young guy, he just needed to learn the game. He had all the physical tools, and I think quickly we taught him how to play the game as far as picking your spots, things like that. I think once he figured that out, it was fairly simple for him because he already had the physical tools.”
“He started out as the young guy who still had to understand the game. The he became the ‘Lone Ranger’ a lot of times. Like a few guys coming back, he was able to lean into more of a leadership role. That’s how he matured from a year-to-year basis.”
Peterson has coached numerous Division I players and four NBA players since joining Wasatch in 2018, but has only had the pleasure of being around two McDonald’s All-Americans. One being another former Zag, Capital City Go-Go combo guard Nolan Hickman, back in 2021. The other with Harwell in 2025.
There was a lot of hype for Harwell heading into his freshman collegiate season with coach Kelvin Sampson and the Houston Cougars in the Big 12 Conference. But a lingering right ACL issue that he originally tore during his junior year of high school kept him out for most of the summer workouts leading up to the 2024-25 season. He reinjured his knee during the McDonald’s All-American Game.
While showcasing positive offensive flashes, Harwell didn’t break into Houston’s rotation after averaging just 3.2 points on a mere shooting split of 27.9 field goal percentage, 27.1 three-point percentage, and 61.3 free throw percentage in 13.8 minutes per 32 games played.
“I don’t think there’s such a thing as things going wrong. I think he just found out this was going to be a learning process for him. I thought he did a good job of picking things up from the older guys. He had to start from scratch. I don’t think things went wrong for him there.”
When asking why Gonzaga fans should be excited for a player of Harwell’s caliber, Peterson explained how he is the total package as a prototypical shooting guard for the college game.
“He brings that aggression and athleticism from that guard spot. His size, athleticism, defensive prowess, I think that’s what he brings. I think that what a lot of teams lack is that positional size. And he gives you really, really good positional size.”
The 2027 or 2028 NBA Draft is definitely on Harwell’s mind as he looks to improve his stock during his tenure in Spokane, Washington. Peterson believes all that he needs, which the Zags can offer him, is court time.
“I think everybody knows about his physical tools. I think it’s just a matter of seeing him be on the court and grow on an everyday basis. I think that’s it. He just needs time. So people can dissect the film.”
Now at 6-6 and 220 pounds, Harwell has an opportunity to step in at the starting two spot for coach Mark Few and immediately make an impact as a 3 and D player. This opportunity came to him in lieu of Alba Berlin combo guard Jack Kayil deciding not to play college basketball and keep his name in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Harwell has a quick jumper and can shoot off the catch as well as off the dribble. Tie that in with his versatility to defend multiple positions and overall athleticism, and he becomes one of the more valuable pieces on Gonzaga’s 2026-27 roster alongside sophomore lead guard Mario Saint-Supery and sophomore wing Davis Fogle at the start of the Pac-12 Conference era.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
