7-foot freshmen become centers of attention

Saturday, February 21

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Wyoming

Buy Tickets

Photo by: David Kadlubowski

2/20/2026 3:49:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro, Lopes Insider Blog

GCU enters home game vs. Wyoming with Demirel, Evans forming tall tandem

By: Paul Coro

When Grand Canyon tips off a game, there is 7 feet, 1 inch and 251 pounds of a Turkish titan for opponents to tangle.

And often when that center leaves the floor, the Lopes swap in a 7-2 center whose tippy-toe standing reach taps the rim.

Demirel and Evans

Efe Demirel and Dennis Evans are freshmen in eligibility, with Efe Demirel moving from Turkey in August and Dennis Evans being sidelined by injuries in his first two college years.

With Wyoming visiting Global Credit Union Arena for a 6 p.m. Saturday game, fourth-place GCU's push up the Mountain West standings is a tall task that relies on Grand Canyon's grand companions to keep the Lopes' hopes as high as their reaches.

GCU (17-9, 10-5 MW) is the nation's only team besides Penn State playing a pair of 7-foot rotation centers and boasts the only regular Mountain West 7-foot tower tandem. Outside Demirel and Evans, there are six 7-footers with half of the teams not having one.

Demirel and Evans have been difference makers in the Lopes' most impressive wins – upsetting then-No. 23 Utah State and sweeping San Diego State. Demirel is averaging 8.7 points, 5.2 and 1.0 blocks in 22.2 minutes per game and Evans is adding 1.9 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 7.6 minutes per game. Both are making more than 60% of their shots.

Demirel posted his best all-around game of the season in Tuesday's win at San Diego State because his second double-double (14 points and 11 rebounds) included better defense than his season-high 22 points against Oklahoma State or his other double-double (14 points, 10 rebounds in overtime) at Nevada – both in losses.

GCU assistant coach Casey Shaw challenged Demirel's toughness three plays into the game, telling him, "That's not who you are," after an Aztec moved Demirel under the rim.

"He looked at me and said, 'You're right, Coach,' " Shaw said. "After that, he went out and dominated. He was the toughest, most physical guy on the court for the rest of the game. He was hitting every time."

San Diego, CA Feb.17, 2026: Then Lopes top San Diego State 73-63 at Viejas Arena in San Diego, CA. David Kadlubowski/GCU

San Diego, CA Feb.17, 2026: Then Lopes top San Diego State 73-63 at Viejas Arena in San Diego, CA. David Kadlubowski/GCU

Demirel set a season high with 11 rebounds, but it was his all-around work on boxouts and pursuits that earned him the team's "Rebound Warrior" belt for the first time this season.

With about 20 pounds of added muscle in working with associate director of sports performance Jordan Jackson, Demirel has combined that imiproved strength with an adjusted mentality to hold his rebounding, post-up and post defense positions better.

"I'll be honest: it was really physical," the native of Izmit, Turkey, said of Tuesday night. "It was really a fight. I give my best to fight."

Demirel did not arrive in Phoenix until mid-August, when the team was on a break to further delay his court work. With upside, coachability and limited English that has vastly improved, Demirel has become one of the top freshman 7-footers in the nation. Among them, he ranks second in field goal percentage at 64.2% (minimum 100 shots), third in points, fourth in blocks and fifth in rebounds.

"Efe had no idea the level of physicality that we play at here," said Shaw, who is 6-11 and had a 13-year European professional career. "Even compared to a Euroleague team, it's more physical in the Mountain West. He was shocked at how physical it is. There's no finesse in our game. You've got to hit. You've got to box out. It is a fight in the paint.

"He's like the Turkish wolf. You can coach him hard, and he responds."

Demirel also is getting more opportunities, taking 16 field goal attempts in the past two games for the first time since early January. Shaw said he has improved how quickly he gets out screens and how hard he dives to "Gortat," getting post position to seal for guard drives or receive the ball. His post-ups are more apt to have two hands available for catches, and he is more vocal for the guards to find him.

"It definitely goes both ways," GCU head coach Bryce Drew said of Demirel and the guards connecting. "First, it's Efe being open and beinga target that they trust. Is he going to keep his man off so he can catch it? Second is the guards having their eyes up to be able to see him when he is open. Defenses and help sides are really good in this league, so that window is really small. When our guards see it, they have to deliver it right away."

Other than a four-game stretch off the bench, Demirel has been a starting lineup fixture since Dec. 6.

San Diego, CA Feb.17, 2026: Then Lopes top San Diego State 73-63 at Viejas Arena in San Diego, CA. David Kadlubowski/GCU

For Evans, the role has come and gone. The Riverside, California, native has appeared in each of the past 10 games for 10.5 minutes per game after playing in nine of GCU's first 15 games for 4.4 minutes per game.

When Evans scores four or more points or grabs five or more rebounds, the Lopes have won each game. Evans had four points and five rebounds Tuesday night at San Diego State, where he also blocked a shot. This season, Evans is blocking a shot once per 6.7 minutes.

"It's a progression, and it's a process," Shaw said. "It's his first year playing basketball after two years. His hands are getting better. His feet are getting better. He's getting more explosive."

With Evans earning a regular role, GCU is one of 12 teams in the nation with 7-footers making at least 45 appearances combined this season.

"I was just trying to keep up the physicality while I was out there, keep up being physical, being ready to move and just challenging everything I can," Evans said. "It helps me keep myself level, making sure I'm doing the small things that I have to do to continue progressing."

The arena backboard glass was showing a handprint Friday from where Evans slapped his hand inches from the top of it. His presence can be game-changing with rim protection and shot deterrence, and both 7-footers have improved their footwork.

Demirel moved from his heels to his toes to slide backward against drivers better, and Evans used two-on-one drills to sharpen his timing while backpedaling.

With a full offseason, Demirel will use his free throw shooting touch to add a mid-range shot while Evans can upgrade his footwork and reaction time.

"The difference between now and next fall is going to be monumental for both of them," Shaw said.

Lope tracks

GCU made its Mountain West debut on Dec. 20 at Wyoming and won 82-70 with 20 bench points from junior guard Makaih Williams. It was the Cowboys' first home loss of the season.
Williams is averaging 15.4 points per conference game, putting him nine points away from the 1,000-point career mark
Wyoming (14-12, 5-10 MW) is 1-8 in road games this season with its lone away win coming Dec. 30 at last-place Air Force.
On Tuesday, Wyoming defeated Fresno State 92-82 by going 15 for 33 on 3-pointers and putting five scorers in double figures.
The Cowboys averaged 25 attempts from 3-point range per game with 33.7% accuracy (204th nationally).
Wyoming leads the Mountain West with 12.2 offensive rebounds per game.
Senior guard Leland Walker, a Florida Atlantic transfer, is averaging 14.6 points, 3.7 of which come on free throws by average.
GCU senior Jaden Henley ranks sixth in the Mountain West for points per game (17.5) and fifth for steals per game (1.6).
The Lopes are 8-0 when making 35% or more of their 3-point shots.
GCU is 14-0 in games that it led at halftime.
The Lopes are pursuing their fourth conference series sweep of the season. They trail third-place New Mexico by one game and lead fifth-place Nevada by one game wtih five conference games remaining for all teams.