SPOKANE, Wash. – Lauren Whittaker is ready to etch her mark into Gonzaga lore.
“It was amazing,” Whittaker said. “It was so good to be back on the court, I mean, I can’t explain it. But just to be in the moment, I think it’s so different when you’re on the court, and you’re just feeling all the emotions, and the game just kinda takes over.”
She arrived to Gonzaga from New Zealand, the 6’3 forward the only representative from her nation to play in the NBA Basketball without Borders Global Camp, and she promptly earned MVP.
“Just coming here and experiencing for myself the culture and the community around Gonzaga was just something that you get goosebumps every time,” Whittaker said. “It’s a feeling that you can’t get rid of.”
Whittaker learned under Zags’ legend Yvonne Ejim last season, redshirting and absorbing the wealth of knowledge from the all-time program-leading scorer.
“I think that really helped me with my leadership, just understanding that everyone’s different, and how you apply those tools is different to every person,” Whittaker said. “I think that’s what’s probably going to help us in the long run, is if we can connect together, treat each other as individuals, not as one collective that thinks the same.”
Following Ejim’s departure, Whittaker fills the open Zags frontcourt with a team-high 17 points and eight rebounds per game, plus elite defense.
“I don’t know how long it’s going to take, but she’s going to be in the conversation for defensive player of the year,” Gonzaga head coach Lisa Fortier said. “We have her guarding interior players right now, she could very easily guard any of their guards as well. She’s just that capable as a defender.”
“She’s a really good player, she’s a great add to our team, and I think she’s going to be an important part of what we do each game and for a long time,” Fortier said.
Paired with an electric backcourt of Allie Turner and Ines Bettencourt, Whittaker has an even higher ceiling to grow.
“It’s very helpful as a big, because you don’t feel like you’re getting double-teamed or you’re held down low, they’ve obviously got to mark those point guards as well,” Whittaker said.
Gonzaga next plays in the Coconut Hoops Tournament in Fort Myers, Florida. Game one is against the Indiana Hoosiers this Friday at 10:30 a.m. PST.
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