Richardson Pearce High School basketball alum Drew Timme became Gonzaga University’s all-time leading scorer as the Bulldogs won the West Coast Conference tournament against Saint Mary’s on Tuesday night.
Timme came into the game four points shy of Frank Burgess’ (1958-1961) career total and scored 18 points to lead the Zags and claim the record. He now has 2,210 points in his career.
Timme was also named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
“To get to watch him be our leading scorer at Pearce and do the same thing at that level is pretty awesome,” Pearce head basketball coach Marc Johnson told The Dallas Express. “I saw some of the same moves he was doing in high school, and he still does the same stuff.
“We were at the West Coast Conference finals his freshman year, and that was kind of his coming out party against Saint Mary’s. I was sitting in the stands thinking, ‘Man, I’ve seen this play out in high school games,’ and he was doing that at that level.”
In his four years as a college player in Spokane, Timme and Gonzaga have compiled a 118-12 record, claimed a No.1 seed in the NCAA Tournament three times, won four conference championships, and made one Final Four appearance.
“I took for granted winning,” Timme told ESPN. “I won so much in my career, it’s a shock not to win. I think early in the year, it just kind of made me appreciate what it takes to win night in and night out. I think sometimes we kind of assume we were just going to win because we’re Gonzaga.
“Sometimes, it’s hard not to fall into a mindset we just need to get to March. It was grind this season. I think that grind has made us as a group appreciate each and every night winning and what it takes to win and be a good team.”
The forward has developed into one of the best players in the country, averaging 20.9 points per game this season, 17.0 for his career, and winning two West Coast Conference Player of the Year awards.
“He has blossomed into a more complete player,” Johnson told The Dallas Express. “He’s always had a high basketball IQ, but now he’s got vision.”
“At his spots on the floor, he sees the floor so well,” he continued. “Just great vision. [He] knows when to get rid of it, knows when to hold it and wait, [and] knows when to go quick and go score. He’s just got those instincts that he’s really developed in his college game, and it’s been fun to watch.”
Gonzaga (28-5) has won four consecutive WCC Tournament titles and 21 since 1995. The Bulldogs are projected as either a 2-seed or a 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Gonzaga will be making its 24th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, the third-longest streak in the country behind Kansas (making its 33rd) and Michigan State (25th).
