Zags' Harris to return for sophomore season

SPOKANE - Gonzaga forward Elias Harris announced Thursday he will return for his sophomore season next year.

The 6-foot-8, 215-pound Harris, a native of Speyer, Germany, averaged 14.9 points and a team-high 7.1 rebounds per game and shot 54.7 percent from the field (180 for 329). He was an All-West Coast Conference selection and was also named the WCC Newcomer of the Year.

He scored a season-high 31 points at Saint Mary's, one of nine 20-plus point games. He grabbed a season-high 16 rebounds in a win over the Illinois in the United Center in Chicago, one of seven double-digit rebounding games.

"I am looking forward to returning next season and continuing to build on what this team accomplished this season," Harris said. "We are going to have another strong team and I want to be a part of it."

There was much speculation throughout the season Harris would opt for the NBA Draft since he meets the 19-year-old minimum age requirement.

The Bulldogs went 27-7 this season, won a 10th straight WCC regular-season title, a ninth WCC tournament title in the last 12 years and made a 12th straight appearance in the NCAA tournament where the Bulldogs advanced to the second round.

The Bulldogs lose just one starter off this year's team in senior WCC Player of the Year Matt Bouldin.