Eric McClellan is Reportedly Visiting Gonzaga

The Gonzaga Bulldogs could not be completely done adding to their 2014-2015 roster.

Eric McClellan, a 6-foot-4 combo guard who played at Vanderbilt last season, is reportedly visiting Gonzaga next week according to the above tweet.

McClellan, who was a redshirt sophomore last season, has played at two schools already in his young career. He started out at Tulsa and transferred to Vanderbilt right afterward.

While at Tulsa, McClennan averaged 8.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists. After Tulsa, McClellan played 12 games at Vanderbilt, where he a averaged 14.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.

Mid-way through the season at Vanderbilt, McClellan was dismissed from the team for violating academic policy. A previous altercation with the law, where McClellan was arrested and charged with misdemeanor theft stemming from an incident on Aug. 23, 2013, was also considered in the schools decision.

Although his dismissal from Vanderbilt is concerning, his string of apologetic tweets following the situation showed maturity:

"“I’ve waited to bring some things to light. Obviously doing a lot of thinking & reflecting.”“I want to thank everyone apart of the Vanderbilt community & culture for accepting me & giving me a wonderful opportunity.”“I want to thank the staff & my teammates for all the memories that can never be replaced. I’ve learned a tremendous amount from them.”“This isn’t about basketball, this is about how I progress as a man. I’ve made decisions that I’m going to have to live with.”“& these decisions that’ll help me become a better person. God makes no mistakes and this is another test & it’s all about how I respond.”“I needed this for my maturation process & the journey is beautiful. Even when we’re in our darkest moments. I have to be & will be better.”“Thank you, Nashville for the memories, lessons, friendships established & opportunities given. I’m eternally grateful!”“Much love to everyone that has reached out to send their positive & encouraging thoughts. I needed them more than you probably know!”"

While McClellan has put up good numbers as a scorer, there are some troubling statistics attributed to his game.

First of all, McClennan is prone to turning the ball over. The former Commodore averaged 3.1 and 3.5 turnovers in his freshman and sophomore season respectively. In order to receive big minutes in Mark Fews system, the 6-foot-4 combo guard will need to cut down on his turnovers.

Nov 19, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores guard Eric McClellan (1) brings the ball up court against the Butler Bulldogs at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Butler defeats Vanderbilt 85-77 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Secondly, McClellan is not the best long-range shooter. He shot only 18.2 percent during his shortened sophomore season, which would be a concern for a guard in Gonzaga’s offense. However, he did shoot 38.3 percent at Tulsa his freshman season, indicating that McClellan could have been in a shooting slump at Vanderbilt.

On the bright side, McClellan is an athletic guard that reportedly plays well on the defensive end of the floor. He would give the Gonzaga backcourt a completely different dynamic.

With Luke Miekle’s departure, the Zags have one scholarship left to fill at for their 2014-2015 roster. McClennan could potentially be eligible in the second half of the season (by the end of the fall semester), giving the Zags yet another weapon in an already loaded backcourt.

More updates will be posted on the site when they are readily available.