2022 Record: 24-12 (11-7)

Head Coach: Bryce Drew (Career Record 229-135) (GCU Record 64-27)

Projected Rotation:

PG: Jovan Blacksher (10.7 Pts, 2.3 Reb, 2.4 Ast)

SG: Ray Harrison (17.8 Pts, 4.0 Reb, 3.6 Ast)

SF: Collin Moore (Georgia State 14.2 Pts, 4.3 Reb, 1.0 Ast)

PF: Gabe McGlothan (12.8 Pts, 7.6 Reb, 0.9 Ast)

C: Sydney Curry (Louisville 4.9 Pts, 4.3 Reb, 0.3 Ast)

6: SG Josh Baker (5.8 Pts, 2.4 Reb, 2.3 Ast)

7: SF Tyon Grant Foster (DePaul/2020-21 Kansas stats 3.1 Pts, 2.2 Reb, 0.2 Ast)

8: PF Lok Wur (Oregon 2.6 Pts, 2.2 Reb, 0.3 Ast)

9: C Duke Brennan (Arizona State 2.4 Pts, 2.3 Reb, 0.1 Ast)

10: SG Malcolm Flaggs (Arizona State RS)

11: SG Caleb Shaw (Northern Colorado 5.2 Pts, 2.3 Reb, 0.6 Ast)

12: PF Derrick Michael Xzavierro (RS)

13: C Noah Amenhauser

GCU returns the majority of their team that made the NCAA tournament and also did a very good job in the transfer portal replacing lost pieces. The returning backcourt of the Antelopes is the duo of Jovan Blacksher and Ray Harrison. Blacksher is an elite passing point guard that also has the capability of scoring on all three levels. He only played in 12 games last season due to an ankle injury. Ray Harrison was the leading scorer for GCU last season. The former Presbyterian transfer actually improved his statistical numbers from the jump in levels. He is a high volume scorer that could average around or over 20PPG this season.

Portal players that the Antelopes added include Tyon Grant-Foster, Lok Wur, and Duke Brennan. All of them are high major transfers that have the ability to make a huge impact with the Antelopes next season. Grant-Foster started his career off at Indian River CC in the JUCO level then went to Kansas before transferring to DePaul where he battled injuries among other things. He hasn’t played a full season since 2020-21. Wur and Brennan are Pac-12 transfers from Oregon and Arizona State respectfully. Wur is going into his senior season and played sparingly for the Ducks the last 3 seasons. He struggled from the floor at times, but will look to turn it around with GCU this season. Brennan had a productive freshman year at Arizona State in around 10 minutes per game. He’ll provide minutes off the bench as an athletic big for the Lopes. Brennan’s teammate at ASU, Malcolm Flaggs, also transferred to GCU with him this offseason. Flaggs is a SG that redshirted last season.

Gabe McGlothan is one of the returning frontcourt players for the Lopes this season. He has great size and attacks the boards really well. He also has the ability to make shots from beyond the arc when called upon, and it’s also expected that he would have a bigger role with some of the recently departed frontcourt pieces of the Antelopes. Sydney Curry is a transfer from Louisville that signed with GCU this offseason. He has a very productive player at the JUCO level with John A. Logan College. He then went to Louisville where he has shown he can be a very tough player that has the ability to finish around the rim really well. Other big men on the roster include Derrick Michael Xzavierro who redshirted last season along with true freshman Noah Amenhauser.

One of the other big transfers that GCU added this offseason was Georgia State transfer Collin Moore. He had a dramatic rise in his stats this past season going from 1.8PPG in the 2021-22 season to 14.2PPG in the 2022-23 season. He also only played in 13 games last season but still showed the ability to be a high volume scorer for the Panthers last season. He should be squarely in the mix to start for the Lopes this year. Another transfer the Lopes added this offseason was Northern Colorado SG Caleb Shaw. He is mainly known as a shooter but was inconsistent a bit at times last year. He can likely develop during his future with the Lopes. Josh Baker a returning player for the Lopes this season. He will fit perfectly in the 6th man role. The former UNLV and JUCO guard is a well-rounded player with the ability to be a scorer off the bench.

Expectations for Grand Canyon this season should be nothing less than winning the regular season title and taking that momentum and coming home with a conference tournament title securing their spot in the big dance. There will be some competition though from teams like SFA, Seattle, and Cal Baptist. GCU is by far the most talented team in the league and should be the preseason favorite in many peoples eyes.