Holmgren becomes highest-ranked recruit to ever sign with men’s basketball

SPOKANE, Wash. – Gonzaga men’s basketball head coach Mark Few announced the signing of Chet Holmgren to a National Letters of Intent Monday.
 
Chet Holmgren, 7-1, 195, Center, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnehaha)
Holmgren is the highest-ranked recruit to ever sign with the Zags. The versatile 7-1 prospect is the top-ranked recruit in the Class of 2021 by ESPN and 247 Sports. He has a seven-foot, six-inch wingspan. Holmgren’s high school teammate and 2020-21 Gonzaga standout, Jalen Suggs, was the Bulldogs’ previous highest-ranked recruit as No. 6 in the Class of 2020. Recent GU signee Hunter Sallis was also the sixth-ranked recruit by 247 Sports.
 
After being a part of a fourth state championship team, Holmgren was named Naismith Prep Player of the Year, Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year, Sports Illustrated All-American Player of the Year, MaxPreps National Player of the Year, and a McDonald’s All-American.
 
Holmgren was announced as the winner of the 2021 Minnesota Mr. Basketball Award last week. He averaged 21 points and 12.3 rebounds per game during his senior season while leading the Redhawks to the Class 3A state championship. He is the second straight Mr. Basketball winner for the Redhawks as Suggs won the award last year. Holmgren added 4.7 blocks and 4.5 assists while shooting 80 percent from the field in 2020-21. He finished his prep career with 1,567 points, 964 rebounds and 456 blocked shots while helping Minnehaha Academy compile a 128-15 record during his time with the program.
 
“Chet is going to be a great addition to our program, and all of us are looking forward to getting to work with him and starting the next step in his career,” Few said. “He is a big-time winner, comes from a great family, and will be a great teammate.”

COURTESY GONZAGA ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS