Gonzaga men’s basketball center Graham Ike acknowledged he isn’t as skilled a fisherman as his coach, Mark Few, but that hasn’t stopped him from trying.
“I wouldn’t say I’m anywhere near his level,” Ike admitted. “I’m still beginning, you know. I just like to have fun with it.”
Ike is especially proud of catching a foot-long pike with his uncle last summer, but fishing is just one of many activities the 6-foot-9 Wyoming native enjoys during Spokane’s hot summers when he isn’t at Gonzaga’s Volkar Center.
“Just the lake days, man. I’ll step out to the pond right over by where I live, just get good scenery,” Ike said. “I like to read, just get out in the sun and [I’m] huge on those lakes.”
This isn’t what Ike had envisioned for his Spokane summers when he moved from Laramie, Wyoming, a year ago. Originally from Aurora, Colorado, Ike didn’t know much about his new home in Washington, 1,000 miles away. His initial impression was to compare Spokane to Los Angeles—a comment that still gets him teased by his teammates and one he now regrets.
“It’s not LA, but it’s a great place to be,” Ike said of Spokane. “It’s another home for me. Definitely a place where I’m comfortable, a place that I love. A place I see myself coming back to.”
It’s safe to say Ike’s teammates share his feelings about Spokane, as the Bulldogs’ first summer practice saw participation from all 10 players of the 2023-24 squad that won 15 of its last 18 games and made it to the program’s ninth consecutive Sweet 16. In an era of college sports marked by abundant NIL opportunities and frequent transfers, not a single player from Coach Few’s main rotation considered transferring.
However, they didn’t return just for enjoyable lake days—the 2024-25 Zags have championship ambitions, bolstered by strong additions from the transfer portal. Michael Ajayi, a 6-foot-7 wing from Pepperdine, brings elite shotmaking with a 47.0% 3-point shooting rate last season. Khalif Battle, a grad transfer from Arkansas known as “KB,” “puts that ball in the bucket at a high rate,” according to Ike, while Emmanuel Innocenti from Tarleton State excels in perimeter defense.
“I think we’re going to have a really successful season just based on today and what we’re looking like right now,” Ike said. “We’re having fun, not getting burnt out, enjoying each other’s company, and watching each other grow. Ultimately, we want to win a national championship.”
“All of the incoming transfers surprise me in their own way,” Ike added. “Like Ajayi, his shotmaking ability really impressed me, especially in his first two weeks here—he looked polished and effective on both ends of the floor. KB also scores at a high rate and plays with great heart and passion, which I love.”
Ike discussed Gonzaga’s competitive summer practices, how he has improved his game this offseason, and more on a new episode of Gonzaga Nation with Dan Dickau.
