Drew Timme has played his last few games in a Gonzaga uniform.
The All-American forward ended all speculation that he could use a fifth year of college eligibility and told The Athletic’s Seth Davis that he would transfer from Gonzaga to the NBA at the end of the 2022-23 season.
“I have my four years behind me,” said Timme. “I’m a senior and I’m moving on.”
Timme then called Davis – no. 12 Gonzaga’s 77-68 win over No. 15 Saint Mary’s on Saturday at the McCarthey Athletic Center. Timme scored 19 points — 13 of them in the second half — and helped Gonzaga earn a share of the West Coast Conference regular-season title.
Gonzaga did not make Timme available to local reporters in a post-game press conference on Saturday.
The senior is one of, if not the most successful players to come through Gonzaga’s program and is close to the school’s all-time record held by Frank Burgess.
Timmes, averaging 21.2 points per game, goes into Wednesday’s regular-season finals against Chicago State and needs just 39 to break Burgess’ record of 2,196 points.
The Dallas native would have to set a career high on Wednesday to break the record, but there’s a good chance he’ll be the school’s career-leading leader at next week’s WCC tournament, where the Zags will be the No. 2 seed will be :30pm Monday against Santa Clara, San Francisco, Pepperdine or Pacific.
Timme has not indicated he would consider returning for a fifth season, and his mother Megan told The Spokesman-Review in a preseason interview that it was unlikely her son would take advantage of a waiver on players who died during of the COVID-19 affected year 2020 -21 season competed an additional year of eligibility.
“He has (has the waiver),” Megan said. “He won’t take it, but he does.”
Some have still posited that Timme might consider returning to school to take advantage of NIL offerings. Last offseason, Timme told FOX Sports reporter John Fanta he expects to make between $200,000 and $500,000 as a late second-round NBA draft pick and would earn more with NIL earnings by returning to school earn.
Timme is nearing the end of his most prolific season at Gonzaga, but the senior hasn’t improved his position in most mock drafts, who see him as a late second-round pick at best.
Davis asked Timme if there was an amount of money that could tempt him to return to the Zags for the 2023-24 season.
“Hmm. Why don’t we say $100 million?” said Timme.
Timme is one of four seniors to be celebrated on Wednesday’s seniors night before the game. Rasir Bolton, in his fifth collegiate season, is the only player on Gonzaga’s roster not eligible to return next year. Senior forward Anton Watson and senior guard Malachi Smith both have the option to return for a fifth season.
Timme, who was named Naismith International of the Week after scoring 41 points in a home game against San Diego and Saint Mary’s, is already the program’s career leader in field goals scored (849) and needs just 21 more to to get to the top-five of the career rebounds list. Timme has 839 career rebounds.
Reigning WCC Player of the Year, Timme, currently has a career record of 115-12 with Gonzaga and is the program’s NCAA tournament leader for points and field goals.
