With Grand Canyon men’s basketball fielding perhaps the strongest roster under head coach Bryce Drew and a nonconference schedule expected to be its toughest as a Division I program, the Lopes may have more answers than questions entering the 2024-25 basketball season.
This week, the Lopes held a media session, in the third month of summer training. Here are some lessons:
Who fills the role of Gabe McGlothan?
Forward Gabe McGlothan is the only starter not returning from last year’s historic 30-5 season that saw GCU win its first NCAA Tournament game. Returning are WAC Player of the Year Tyon Grant-Foster (who is going through an NCAA waiver process seeking eligibility to start the season), guards Ray Harrison and Collin Moore and center Duke Brennan as starters of the year. past. Striker Lok Wur, fundamental in the second half of last season, also returns.
McGlothan, trying to make the NBA Denver Nuggets roster, gave Lopes resistance on the glass and on the defensive end. He was also a steady scorer, racking up points in the paint and beyond the 3-point arc. And he was a leader on and off the court.
GCU shouldn’t fall too far with 6-foot-2, 215-pound JaKobe Coles getting a chance to take McGlothan’s place in the starting lineup. Coles came from TCU, where he made three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. He battled plantar fasciitis after scoring 14 points in the Horned Frogs’ 7-0 game last season. He ended up averaging 10 points and made 42% of his 3-pointers last season.
Sammie Yeanay, 6-8, 235, a freshman forward from AZ Compass Prep, could also play a role. He added 12 pounds of muscle this summer.
“He comes in with a lot of experience,” Drew said of Coles. “Three straight NCAA tournament appearances. He’s averaged double figures. I think experience-wise he’ll fill some of that gap.”
Sammie Yeanay, 6-8, 235, a freshman forward from AZ Compass Prep, could also play a role. He added 12 pounds of muscle this summer.
Can PG Styles Phipps make an impact as a true freshman?
Since Drew arrived to take over the Grand Canyon program and lead the Lopes to three NCAA Tournament appearances in four years, he hasn’t had a true freshman make a big impact. Could that change with the arrival of Phoenix St. Mary’s All-Arizona point guard Styles Phipps?
Phipps will battle for playing time with point guard Makaih Williams (6-2, 185), a transfer from UT Arlington who was the WAC Freshman of the Year last season.
Phipps showed a good mid-range jump shot and the ability to find open teammates for baskets.
“You can tell he’s been very well coached since high school,” Drew said. “He knows what to do. He knows how to work. He’s got a great feel for the game. And he’s just a pure point guard with his passing. He’s also strong. He weighs about 185 pounds (6-2). He carries himself put him in a position where he can compete as a freshman.”
Phipps has worked hard to get to this level, whether it’s throwing jump shots or lifting weights.
“It’s getting to the next level in college basketball, that physicality, adjusting to that and getting comfortable with guys,” Phipps said. “I think the level of guys we have makes it easier for me to facilitate. I can get to my spots when I need to.”
Lok Wur cheering for South Sudan at the Olympics
Wur, 6-9, 210, from South Sudan, said he is part of a group of players considered to represent their country at the Olympics. He didn’t make it to the testing stage, but just being in that group of names is impressive, especially given how well South Sudan have played.
It nearly defeated the U.S. in a pre-Olympics exhibition tune-up, falling 101-100 on a last-second layup by LeBron James. South Sudan lost 103-86 to the Americans in Paris.
“They’re a very good team,” Wur said of South Sudan. “Obviously, you can see what they can do, shock the world (in the one-point exhibition loss to the NBA-packed U.S. team). I couldn’t take the test, but I’m still in the group of players they select. I’m still supporting them.”
Wur is hopeful that she will be able to represent South Sudan at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Richard Obert has covered high school sports since 1980 for The Arizona Republic. He also covers Grand Canyon University and Arizona Rattlers athletics. To suggest ideas for human interest stories and other news, contact Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert
This article originally appeared in the Arizona Republic: GCU Summer Takeaways: Phipps Adapting, Coles Playing a Big Role
