THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: With portal closed, Zags turn focus to building group

Take a deep breath, Zag folk.

It doesn't appear the roster will be raided, after all.

Oh, I understand that temporary terror, wondering if some hungry school might show up at the last minute — waving wads of cash at Graham Ike or Braden Huff.

But you can fall back on the couch now, and let your heartbeat return to normal.

Ike, Huff and the other guys you have written in as starters or regular rotation players will, indeed, be in the team picture for the 2025-26 season.

In fact, the news might be better than simply standing pat.

Mark Few and his staff are combing the valleys and meadows of America (plus more other countries than you can name), hoping to add help.

Hey, a 6-foot-6 shooting guard who cans 40 percent from deep would be wildly welcome in Spokane.

There might even be a parade to celebrate.

Ditto a second point guard, since at the moment, Few would have to cast auditions for someone to back up Braeden Smith.

WE CAN take a more in-depth look at the Zags likely roster — plus a couple of possible targets — in just a minute.

Before that, though, I think it's time to clear up some confusion about the transfer portal itself.

This winter/spring version opened on March 24, and more than two thousand athletes have tossed themselves on the open market since then.

These are not always crisp, clean departures, by the way.

What if a player took two years of NIL money from a collective, then bolted for the portal after one season?

An Oregon State collective wound up in a VERY unpleasant divorce with star running back Damien Martinez, who left for Miami.

But, I digress.

The confusion in question has to do with the deadline for entering the portal — in this case, it was Tuesday.

Now, athletes cannot seek an out through the portal after that deadline, but anyone who has already filed the paperwork with his school's administration can commit and sign elsewhere with no time limit at all.

It works the other way, too.

Schools are battling to land some needed help well past that entry deadline.

Gonzaga is desperate for guards — shooters and ballhandlers with some size.

The Zags got burned at times last year when guards Ryan Nembhard (6-0) and Nolan Hickman (6-1) were overpowered.

Smith, the incoming point guard, is barely six feet.

IF WE assume that no one slipped away in the darkness Tuesday night, the Zags are left with an exciting roster.

I say that without knowing the health or status of 6-7 sharpshooting wing Steele Venters, who transferred in from Eastern Washington two years ago — but who hasn't played a minute because of two separate, season-ending injuries.

If Venters is fit and firing, some of the depth and accuracy fears will be eased.

Not eliminated, though.

Right now, Few would probably start Smith and defensive wizard Emmanuel Innocenti at the guard spots, with Ike and Huff playing a two-bigs attack near the hoop.

And.

Yes, and.

It gets a little uncertain here.

Ironically, the Zags DO have backup in the post, where bruising shot blocker Ismaila Diagne is an intriguing project.

Elsewhere, Virginia redshirt transfer Jalen Warley will help up front, and exciting 6-6 freshman Davis Fogle from Anacortes (Wash.) could make a serious impact.

Plus.

Few and Co. would really like to add a couple of big combo guards.

However, pulling a player out of the lake at this point can fetch you anything from a minnow to the Loch Ness monster.

How about All-WCC Pacific guard Lamar Washington, or Trent McLaughlin, a 6-6 scoring machine (22 ppg) from Northern Arizona?

Or.

A diamond hidden among those thousand others who'd love to play at Gonzaga.

Hmmm?

Email: scameron@cdapress.com

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press three times each week, normally Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday unless, you know, stuff happens.

Steve suggests you take his opinions in the spirit of a Jimmy Buffett song: “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”