Meet the Freshmen: Gonzaga’s Bryan Alberts
By Andy Buhler
Another piece to the potpourri Mark Few has constructed in this class of freshman is Bryan Alberts.
The 6-foot-5 combo guard boasts a well-rounded scoring ability, great athleticism and a lot of talent to carry to the collegiate level. The 3-star sported offers from Wisconsin, Colorado, Arizona State, Northwestern, and Boston College before deciding on Gonzaga the summer before his senior season.
At Sierra Canyon
Alberts spent his first year of high school at Sierra Canyon in the Granada Hills outside of LA. As a freshman he averaged 11.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.0 steals, assuming a starting role and proving his potential early in his high school career.
Alberts’ lone year at Sierra Canyon was played alongside University of Washington freshman guard Jahmel Taylor (whom Alberts is set to play when UW and GU face off once again in 2016), who also ended up transferring.
Here are highlights from the 2011 regional semifinals where Alberts shows a diverse range of offense and great court vision (as a freshman, keep in mind). I advise keeping the volume down due to the dilapidated attempt at commentary.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXW-jtMcSmk
At Village Christian
For a good chunk of his time at Village Christian, Alberts played point guard, mainly distributing to the likes of Eastern Washington Commit Bear Henderson and new USC Commit Bennie Boatwright while scoring reliably and in the clutch.
Taking his Crusaders to the Division V-AA semifinals twice the prior years, as a senior he averaged 10.4 points and 6.1 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and a scrappy 3.2 steals per game. His senior numbers vastly varied from those of his junior year (around 17 points, six rebounds and four assists) which is likely due to him running the point full time, after his junior numbers lead to his verbal commitment to GU.
Below are highlights from Village Christian’s regional division championship against Renaissance Academy in 2012, Alberts’ sophomore year. Watch how a cold-blooded Alberts sticks a long three to put the Crusaders up by three, and eventually win the game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i25XfUsDbCQPotential
Impact at Gonzaga
Personally, I think Alberts is set to surprise a lot of people right off the bat if he gets the shot.
Rumors swirled about him potentially redshirting due to the amount of existing backcourt talent in addition to the class of 2014, but I’m not at all sold on that. Few knows to put the best players on the court, so Alberts will get his fair shot.
He is flat out a more put together player than every guard of Gonzaga’s 2012 and 2013 classes, which speaks to the (especially guard) depth in this year’s freshman class but highlights his scoring ability and athleticism.
Also, as evident in his highlight videos, the guy is poised, not afraid to take big shots, and run the show when it matters.
At the same time, he must compete with fellow incoming guards Josh Perkins, and Silas Melson–both who boast a similar skill-sets as athletic guards. I like to draw up Alberts as a potentially more offensively polished Kyle Dranginis, and he will play a big role for the team in the future, potentially sliding to the small forward spot when Pangos, Bell Jr, and Wesley sing their swan song–that is the luxury of Alberts’ size, as the Zags would not be vastly undersized like last year with Stockton, Pangos, and Bell in the backcourt none of whom are above 6-foot-2.