Former Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs has officially taken his talents to the NBA level. Going No. 5 overall to the Orlando Magic in the NBA draft, he’s just the fourth Gonzaga player in the common draft era (since 1966) to be a top-10 NBA draft selection.
Suggs enjoyed great success over the Bulldogs’ storybook season in 2020. Now that his professional hoops career is officially underway, let’s examine what else there is to know about Suggs.
1: In 2019, Suggs became the first athlete in Minnesota state history to win Mr. Basketball and Mr. Football honors in the same season. He left his high school, Minnehaha Academy, ranked first all-time in scoring (2,945 points) and led the team to three state titles.
At quarterback, he accounted for 2,213 yards (25 touchdowns) and rushed for 978 yards (12 touchdowns).
6: Coming out of high school, Suggs was the No. 6 overall prospect in the 2020 ESPN 100, making him the highest-ranked recruit to play for Gonzaga since the rankings started in 2007. He’s only the second McDonald’s All-American to play for Gonzaga (Zach Collins in 2016-17).
24: Suggs made his collegiate debut against then-sixth ranked Kansas. He finished this game with 24 points, tied for the fourth-most by any freshman to debut against an AP Top-10 team in the last 25 seasons.
Only RJ Barrett (33 in 2018), Zion Williamson (28 in 2018) and Tyrese Maxey (26 in 2019) scored more points in their first freshman outings. Suggs’ 24.3 points per game against top-10 teams led the nation last season.
BRING BALANCE TO THE FORCE! https://t.co/OdcCwvqFrR
— T.S STARK (@untouchablejay4) April 4, 2021
0: That is how much time remained after Suggs’ game-winner in OT to defeat UCLA in this year’s Final Four. It was just the fourth game-winning buzzer beater in Final Four history and first since 2016. The finish all but cemented this matchup’s 2021 ESPY victory for Best Game of the Year.
The buzzer beater made Gonzaga just the 10th team to enter the national championship game undefeated. The most recent such instance prior to last season? Indiana in 1979.
139: That is the career sack total for Suggs’ two-time Super Bowl champion second cousin Terrell, good for 12th place on the NFL’s unofficial list dating back to 1960.
ESPN Stats and Information contributed to this story.