SPOKANE, Wash. – Gonzaga sophomore Julian Strawther has submitted his papers for early entry to the 2022 NBA Draft.
 
"First and foremost, I would like to thank God for giving me the ability to play the game that I love every day. Without him, none of this would be possible. Next, I would like to thank my family and friends for all of their endless amounts of love and support. You all always believed in me, even when nobody else would.
 
"To my Gonzaga family, I love you all. Whether it is teammates, coaches, or support staff you all have helped me grow, not only as a player but as a man as well. To Zag nation, thank you for welcoming me with open arms from the beginning. As soon as I committed to Gonzaga the support from you all was unconditional. There is truly no place like Gonzaga.
 
"Playing in the NBA has been my dream for as long as I can remember. After talking to my family and coaches, I have decided to declare for the 2022 NBA Draft."
 
As in years past, players can submit paperwork to receive evaluations from the NBA. Strawther plans to utilize the current rules in place, and has until June 1 to make a final decision as to whether he wishes to remain in the draft or return to Gonzaga.
 
Strawther scored a career-high 20 points twice, versus Duke and BYU. Against Duke on Nov. 26 in his hometown of Las Vegas, he added 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. He grabbed a season-high 12 boards against Tarleton State. Strawther averaged 11.8 points per game, reaching double-digits 21 times. He started 31 of the Zags' 32 games in 2021-22.
 
Strawther helped the Bulldogs advance to their 23rd straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2021-22. Gonzaga finished the season at 28-4, going 13-1 in West Coast Conference play, winning the league regular season title for a national-best 10th straight season.