Baker returns from shoulder surgery to face NAU

Sunday, November 12

Phoenix, Ariz.

3:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Northern Arizona

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Photo by: David Kadlubowski

11/11/2023 12:47:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro

GCU Notes NAU Notes

Lopes add experienced playmaker, perimeter defender who underwent May 1 operation

By: Paul Coro

Sunday, Nov. 12 \| 3:30 p.m. \| GCU Arena \| Phoenix, Ariz.

	NORTHERN ARIZONA LUMBERJACKS (0-1)	at	GRAND CANYON LOPES (1-0)

WATCH: Fox 10 XTRA (Ch. 45, Cable 9), ESPN+ \| LISTEN: 1580 The Fanatic \| STATS: View

From the NCAA tournament appearance in March to Sunday's home game against Northern Arizona, Grand Canyon senior guard Josh Baker missed one regular-season game – Monday's season-opener.

But it took so much more over those eight months for Baker to take the court Sunday. The 6-foot-4 guard from Phoenix underwent May 1 surgery on his right shooting shoulder, the one that continually dislocated last season despite Baker making 36 appearances with 16 starts.

Doctors discovered 20% of his glenoid, the cavity that is the socket for his upper arm bone's head, was missing and needed to use a graft and screws for repair. That led to a tedious, time-consuming rehabilitation that sidelined Baker through summer workouts and exhibition games and up until Sunday's comeback against NAU.

"It's a big blessing," Baker said. "I've learned a lot in this long journey – patience, progresses. I'm glad to be back out there with my team. We've got a special team this year, and we're going to make some special things happen. I can't wait to be part of it."

Baker gives the Lopes an extra playmaker in a nine-man rotation, allowing guard Ray Harrison to play off the ball more often than he did as the main point guard in Monday's 88-67 win against Southeast Missouri.

Baker averaged a career-high 5.8 points and 2.3 assists in 21.1 minutes per game last season, when he improved his 3-point shooting from 26% at UNLV in 2021-22 to 36% for GCU last season with a bum shoulder.

"He really helped us last year," GCU head coach Bryce Drew said. "He was struggling, and you could really tell. He was going in and out of games. He played through a lot of pain but really helped us despite really only having one good arm.

"He's put in a lot of hard work in, rehabbing his shoulder all summer and fall. It's just great to see him back on the court. He looks better than ever."

Baker's most memorable game last season came at Wyoming, when he left the game because of a dislocation and returned to help a 17-2 run that earned the win. The Tempe McClintock High School graduate also was often GCU's best perimeter on-ball defender. Against Pepperdine, Baker led the defensive effort that held Maxwell Lewis, now with the Los Angeles Lakers, to 0-for-11 shooting in regulation.

Baker wants to continue to strengthen his shoulder for fighting through screens, but he felt like his shooting returned to normal last month.

"Until I get my rhythm back, a lot of how I can help will be creating for others and playing defense," Baker said. "As my feel comes back, there'll be more defense, playmaking and shotmaking."

GCU will have another rotation adjustment to make in the future when graduate Jovan Blacksher Jr. returns to action after his knee surgery rehabilitation. He will give GCU a point guard in a backcourt mix of combo guards with Harrison, Baker and Collin Moore and enable Drew to have a blend of small and big lineups.

"Josh knows our system," Drew said. "He brings a lot of stability and maturity to the court. He's a really cerebral player who sees things on defense and is a really good facilitator on offense. He knows the right spots to be and the right passes to make, and he has a history of making open shots."

Lloyd returns to GCU Arena

When Northern Arizona lost its season opener at national champion UConn on Monday, the Lumberjacks' leader in every main statistical category was a familiar name to GCU fans – Liam Lloyd.

Lloyd, the son of Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd, played for the Lopes in 2020-21 and 2021-22 before transferring to NAU in good standing. He moved into a Lumberjacks starting role late last season and helped them get Big Sky Tournament wins to reach the championship game.

After averaging 6.0 points last season, Lloyd opened this season with 15 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals at UConn on Monday.

"I'm really happy for Liam," Drew said. "He's played really well there and a really good game against UConn."

Sunday's 3:30 p.m. tipoff, the Lopes' 200th game at GCU Arena, marks the 49th Lopes-Lumberjacks meeting without having one in the previous eight seasons. Since GCU became a Division I program, NAU won meetings in December 2013 in Flagstaff (63-61) and March 2015 in Phoenix (75-70).