Stromer transfers from Gonzaga to GCU

When Dusty Stromer left high school for Gonzaga, his projections were fast-tracked with a label as ESPN's No. 34 recruit in the nation and a starting job to begin his freshman year.

The 6-foot-6 guard kept a Bulldogs rotation role for two years and will tap more into that basketball promise by hitting refresh on his collegiate career with Grand Canyon next season.

Stromer is transferring to GCU this summer after averaging 4.6 points and 2.7 rebounds over two seasons for Gonzaga's perennial national power.

"We are really excited about Dusty," GCU head coach Bryce Drew said. "I have seen him play since high school and liked his game. His playing style fits us very well. He is a versatile perimeter player who can score on three levels, play multiples positions and defend very well."

A season-ending injury to Steele Venters pressed Stromer into starting 15 of his first 16 games as a Gonzaga freshman wing. That season, he averaged 23.6 minutes for that Sweet 16 team. This season, he logged 17.5 minutes per game for the Zags, who lost in the NCAA tournament second round to national runner-up Houston.

Stromer shot 35% from 3-point range in 69 games at Gonzaga and was noted for his consistent effort and on-ball perimeter defense, an energy that showed in his No. 8 ranking among WCC players for defensive plus-minus, according to sport-reference.com. He has played at shooting guard with the Zags but considers himself a combo guard.

"I really can impact winning in a lot of different ways," Stromer said. "My whole life, I've been able to just find ways to win games. I kind of refer to myself as like a Swiss Army Knife. I can really score well. I can defend, And I think one of the most underrated parts in my game that I haven't been able to show at Gonzaga is my passing ability. Basically. I just come in there and do what I need to do."

Stromer was coached at age 16 in a prestigious club basketball league by Marc Rodgers, who is entering his third year as a GCU assistant coach. The Sherman Oaks, California, native led Notre Dame High School to a CIF Division 1 title to become a four-star recruit who chose Gonzaga over Arizona, Houston and UCLA.

This time, he picked GCU for how the staff envisions his game, the Lopes' winning ways and how the program already felt like a family environment to him.

"Honestly, me and Coach Drew got along really well from the jump, from the first call," Stromer said. "I could just tell that he was confident in my game and knew what kind of player I am and what I've been going through out here. I feel like he really believes in me."

Stromer was a rare freshman with a large role at Gonzaga, scoring 15 points (with four 3-pointers) against USC and playing 40 minutes in a game against UCLA. He remained in a rotation role for the entire season.

"It was definitely a blessing, even though it was hard and maybe I wasn't fully prepared," Stromer said. "It was such a blessing because I have so much experience now, so many minutes in big, big games. I feel ready to play against anyone in the country because I've done it already."

Few programs in the nation can rival the enrollment that "The Kennel" creates at Gonzaga home games, but Stromer might top that experience once he plays in front of the Havocs and "The Biggest Party in College Basketball" at Global Credit Union Arena.

"I'm super excited," Stromer said. "I'm obviously coming from a place that's pretty well known for its home crowd, but I've heard that this crowd gets pretty rowdy. So I cannot wait to get in front of those fans. I'm ready to work. I'm ready to go, and I'm excited for a great year.

"It's a program that wins and that's what I was looking for – a winning culture."

Grand Canyon University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Dusty Stromer

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