GCU's largest D-I fall class signs

This season is barely underway but the Grand Canyon men's basketball program took a peek into its future Wednesday with its largest fall signing class in head coach Dan Majerle's seven years.

Two prep players and two junior college players signed letter of intents to join GCU for the 2020-21 season after all visiting the Phoenix campus this fall.

The prepsters include 6-foot-5 shooting guard Liam Lloyd, who plays at Gonzaga Prep in Spokane, Washington, and 6-3 point guard Chance McMillian, a Vallejo, California, native who is playing at the Golden State Preparatory Academy.

Joining the Lopes as juniors, 6-5 guard/forward Rashad Smith is an in-state recruit coming from Pima Community College in Tucson via Hamilton High School in Chandler while 6-7 forward Quincy Urbina will join GCU from City College of San Francisco after growing up in Los Angeles.

"We targeted some guys and we got who we wanted," Majerle said. "I'm excited about all of these guys because of the type of character they have and how hard they play. They are guys who want to be in the gym and work. Those are the kind of kids who I love to coach."

LIAM LLOYD | Spokane, Wash.

Lloyd is a two-time state champion and two-time all-league player who averaged 16 points per game last season for Gonzaga Prep. He is the youngest child and only son of Tommy Lloyd, a 19-year assistant coach for Gonzaga men's basketball.

Majerle: "Liam is a 2/3 (shooting guard/small forward) who can really shoot it. He's going to work really hard and wants to be really good. He can step in and shoot the basketball. He can guard a lot of different positions. He wants to get in the gym. He's a coach's kid. He is known as a shooter but he's going to be able to do a lot of different things as he continues to improve."

Lloyd: "I always liked how it's an upcoming program and an upcoming school. I really liked how the following was. When I went to Midnight Madness, the atmosphere was super-cool and super-unique. I like Coach Majerle a lot and the kind of vibes he gave off. With what they want to do as a team to succeed, I thought I'd fit in pretty well."

CHANCE McMILLIAN | Vallejo, Calif.

McMillian, a Bethel High School graduate, is playing for a Napa post-graduate school and averaging 13.2 points this season. The combo guard is an athletic playmaker who plays with a change of pace and shoots well.

Majerle: "Chance is very athletic and hard-working. He wants to be really good. Down the road, I think he could play the point and the 2 (off-guard). He can really score it. I'm excited about what he brings with his culture, how hard he works and his competitiveness."

McMilian: "I chose GCU because the coaching staff showed a lot of love to me. They really welcomed me into their program as if I was already in it and that's what stood out to me. On top of that, when I went to the Midnight Madness, I fell in love. It blew my mind off my shoulders."

RASHAD SMITH | Chandler, Ariz.

Smith averaged 14.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.5 steals as a Hamilton senior for the fourth-seeded team in Class 6A. He has shown an ability to play multiple positions at Pima, where he opened this season with a 21-point, 10-rebound performance. Last season, Smith averaged 13.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists as a Pima freshman. His mother, Rachel Wilkins, graduated from GCU in nursing.

Majerle: "Rashad can play multiple positions — 1 (point guard) through 3 (small forward) — and can really handle the ball and score. He's another guy who will bring a great culture to our team because of how competitive he is and his high IQ. He'll make everyone around him better. That's a big get for us because of the type of kid he is and how he can do a bunch different things, handle it really well, score it, really pass and defend well with good size."

Smith: "It's home. I know a lot of people on the team. We grew up together. Coach Majerle and the whole coaching staff seemed like another family. The business school and the education throughout the school is really good."

QUINCY URBINA | Los Angeles, Calif.

Urbina originally attended San Jose State out of Clovis West High School in Fresno, California, but transferred after redshirting 2017-18. At City College of San Francisco, the high-energy competitor averaged 10.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals for a 31-2 team last season and is averaging 12.3 points and 5.5 rebounds with 53.3% shooting this season.

Majerle: "Quincy is an athletic guy who can play the 3 (small forward) or 4 (power forward). He's extremely athletic and very competitive. He can really get to the basket and score it. He's a good defender. With Oscar (Frayer) leaving, that will give us some athleticism that we'll need at those spots."

Urbina: "I chose GCU because of the atmosphere, the coaching staff and the amazing support from every single person at the university, from the academic counselor to the athletic trainers to the strength and conditioning coach. Everyone is locked in, no matter what, all the time. I wanted a school with that to get me to the next level. Having Coach Majerle, the assistant coaches, Jerry Colangelo and everyone on the staff is going to help me achieve my goals. And I loved the campus."

Grand Canyon University Athletics

LIAM LLOYD | Spokane, Wash.

CHANCE McMILLIAN | Vallejo, Calif.

RASHAD SMITH | Chandler, Ariz.

QUINCY URBINA | Los Angeles, Calif.

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Liam Lloyd

Chance McMillian

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