Without a Standout, Gonzaga Has Become One

The question generates many answers. Coaches, scouts and recruiters offer differing opinions.

Who is the best player for top-ranked Gonzaga?

Is it the forward headed to the University of Virginia? Well, he's going to Charlottesville -- to play football. Perhaps the skinny forward who plans to play in college at that basketball powerhouse -- Harvard? One rival coach loves the center who also might be headed to play in the Ivy League. Then there is the sophomore point guard with loads of potential.

Each player has his strengths, but none is considered a star. In fact, on more than one occasion, the team's other starter, senior guard Rodney Gould, said he took the court believing the other team was more skilled.

"There were a lot of teams we've played this year that I think had more individual talent than we had," said Gould, who will play football at Lafayette College. "But because we play together as one, the team will beat any individuals in the game.

"It's not the best players in the area. It's the team."

There might be debate about the best Gonzaga player, but there is little question that the Eagles have -- so far -- put together one of the finest seasons in the Washington area in recent years. By forgetting about individual statistics and glory and letting the game dictate roles, Gonzaga is on the verge of perhaps the best season in school history.

"Our best player is our team," Gonzaga Coach Steve Turner said.

As it begins play in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference tournament this afternoon at Gallaudet, Gonzaga is 27-1, with few close victories. The Eagles seem like a strong bet to end DeMatha's run of three consecutive league titles. Gonzaga has spent much of the season atop The Post's rankings.

The Stags' overwhelming recent success came in part to having standout players. Their 34-1 season in 2005-06 was led by All-Mets Nigel Munson and Austin Freeman, two other future major college recruits in Jeff Peterson and Jerai Grant and Georgetown recruit Chris Braswell.

Perhaps the best season in Gonzaga history was in 1985-86, when Georgetown recruit Mark Tillmon and Perry Carter, who went on to play at Ohio State, led the Eagles to a 29-3 mark.

However, this season's team has no such stars. Leading scorer Ian Hummer, a 6-foot-6 junior center who averages 14.3 points, is being recruited by Princeton, where his father played with Bill Bradley. Senior forward Max Kenyi, who averages 13.3 points, is bound for Harvard, which hasn't qualified for the NCAA tournament since 1946. Another senior forward, Virginia-bound Cameron Johnson, averages 12.2 points. Sophomore guard Tyler Thornton is drawing attention from many top college programs even though he averages 6.6 points per game.