Grand Canyon basketball wants to make more March Madness history with veterans, newcomers

Grand Canyon’s men’s basketball team undoubtedly will miss what Gabe McGlothan brought on and off the court.

But with five of the team’s top scorers back, and newcomers, most notably power forward JaKobe Coles, in the mix, the Lopes are looking to make this season even more historic than last season, when they won 30 games for the first time as a Division I program and won their first-ever NCAA Tournament game.

“You don’t,” guard Ray Harrison said Friday during media day, when asked how the team replaces McGlothan. “He’s a one type of dude. But we definitely got guys who can rally together. But, as far as filling that void, nah, I don’t think we’re going to be able to do it.”

Official practices for the 2024-25 season began this week. A long, hot summer soon will turn into Midnight Madness on Oct. 4, before an exhibition on Oct. 29 against Eastern New Mexico, then the season opener Nov. 4 against Cal State Fullerton.

Replacing McGlothan (now in the Denver Nuggets camp) is the biggest question surrounding a program that fed off of his passion and energy the last four years, when the Lopes reached the NCAA Tournament three times.

But this is as deep and talented a roster, the type coach Bryce Drew has had since he came to GCU following the COVID year that wiped out the national tournament.

Harrison, who came to GCU two years ago as a transfer from Presbyterian, is now the current longest-tenured player on the team. He remembers how his mind was swirling after a couple of weeks of intense summer workouts.

“It’s crazy,” Harrison said when told he’s been around the longest now, getting ready for his third season with the Lopes. “I remember how it felt. It was June 2nd, the first summer I got out here. The first practice, I was like, ‘Man, what is going on here?’ It was confusing. Coach Drew was yelling all practice. It was just chaotic. And now I’m comfortable just because I’ve been here for a while.”

Drew has a great core, led by Harrison, center Duke Brennan, WAC Player of the Year Tyon Grant-Foster, sixth man Lok Wur and guard Collin Moore. Grant-Foster led the team in scoring last year at 20.1 points a game. He put the team on his back in the WAC Tournament and in the first two games of the NCAA Tournament.

The first-round win over Saint Mary’s was a breakthrough for GCU’s program. Two days later, the Lopes hung in for a long time against Alabama, before the Tide pulled away late, as Grant-Foster was the only GCU player who knocked down a 3 in the game.

“We’re always trying to change up things from the previous year on things we need to get better at,” Drew said. “We definitely want to keep the core of what we do. These guys have a special ability to get in the lane and get fouled, be aggressive. So we want to keep that with them. But we need to get better with our execution on offense. And we need to rebound better than what we did last year.”

McGlothan led GCU in rebounding last year with 7.3 a game. Brennan averaged 6.7 rebounds and Grant-Foster 6.1 rebounds.

Coles, a part of three at-large NCAA Tournament teams at TCU, should provide a big boost on the boards. He is 6-foot-8, 215 pounds, a good 3-point shooter, a smart player who can defend and get a body on bigger guys on the glass and rebound.

“It feel like the (TCU) system I was just in in terms of the team trying to go to the tournament, trying to win championships,” Coles said. “I’m excited and blessed to be here.”

Coles realizes the big personality, the big presence McGlothan had at GCU and on the program.

“That was some of the things the coaches were talking about,” Coles said. “They thought, during the recruiting process, I was the person to come in and be that kind of replacement of Gabe. Be that leader guy. Me coming off of three (NCAA) tournaments, playing in the Big 12.

“I’ve had that experience. I am an outspoken person. I will talk to people. I will be a leader. I thought I was a perfect fit.”

Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. He also covers Grand Canyon University athletics and the Arizona Rattlers. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @azc_obert

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: GCU veterans lead younger players with a deeper NCAA run in mind