Suggs, one of nation's top recruits, picks Zags - for now

Zags fans can breathe again.

The suspense is over. Jalen Suggs, the 5-star combo guard from Minneapolis — and one of the most prized recruits in the 2020 class — says he’s headed to Gonzaga.

Suggs told the world about his choice Friday night, or at least that part of the world that tuned in to ESPN2, which carried his announcement live.

Just the fact that a national audience — or some segment of it — cared about Suggs’ decision probably tells you how gifted this young man from Minnehaha Academy really is, and what he might add to a college hoops program.

Suggs had said his college choices had been cut to five finalists: Gonzaga, Iowa State, Florida, Florida State and Minnesota.

“I chose Gonzaga because, really, the family feel for one, and for two, the scheme and the way I think it’s perfect for me to come in and do my thing with the bigs that they have right now,” Suggs told 247Sports’ Evan Daniels. “I see myself going in there and making an impact right away.”

There was no official comment from Zags boss Mark Few or any of his staff, since the NCAA prohibits coaches from saying anything about potential recruits.

However, it’s probably fair to say the Gonzaga family was pleased — and also that they may have known about the decision before all the hoopla on TV.

Suggs, who is a 6-foot-4, 195-pound combo guard, has been up front about loving Gonzaga right from the beginning of his recruiting process, and he’s close pals with the Zags’ other top 2020 recruits, Dominick Harris and Julian Strawther.

During an official visit to Gonzaga, the three high schoolers nicknamed themselves the “Tricky Trio” — which offered the first serious hint that Suggs would wind up in Spokane.

There are some clear caveats that go along with Suggs’ decision, however.

According to several sources, including the recruiting site 247 Sports, Suggs is still considering the option of playing professionally — perhaps overseas — instead of attending college.

“That’s something where it’s presenting itself, and (if) the contract and everything is looking right, then we will go ahead and get moving with that,” Suggs told Daniels. “But until then I’m just going to keep taking my time and be focused on Gonzaga.”

That conversation tells you something else, that Suggs has heard enough from NBA sources that — given good health and a decent season — he intends to turn professional after one year at Gonzaga, or after playing in some pro environment.

Suggs is the highest-rated recruit ever to choose Gonzaga, supplanting 4-star center Zach Collins from Las Vegas, who became the school’s only one-and-done player after competing in the 2017 national championship game.

There was some irony in the fact that Collins, now with the Portland Trail Blazers, never started a game for the Zags — always backing up Polish senior Przemek Karnowski.

If Suggs does wind up at Gonzaga, it will be interesting to see how Few intends to use him.

Kevin Pangos is the only freshman to start for the Zags in this decade, as the Zags’ system is complex and requires mental as well as physical excellence.

Gonzaga is also strongly recruiting Suggs’ current teammate, 7-foot junior Chet Holmgren.

The pair came to Spokane on official visits together.