Gibbs verbally commits to Gonzaga

Grant Gibbs, a 6-foot-5, 190-pound point guard and top-100 recruit from Marion, Iowa, has made an oral commitment to play basketball for Gonzaga University in 2008.

Gibbs, who averaged 15 points, five assists and five rebounds per game in leading Linn-Mar High School to Iowa’s 4A state championship as a junior last winter, told Bulldogs coach Mark Few of his decision Tuesday evening after having also received scholarship offers from Iowa, Iowa State, Wisconsin, Northern Iowa and Indiana State.

“I’ve actually been a huge Gonzaga fan since I was a little kid,” Gibbs said in explaining his decision to travel half a continent away to play his college basketball, rather than stay in his home state.

“When I came out there for my visit, I felt like it was the perfect fit for me.”

Gibbs’ high school coach, Chris Robertson, described his standout point guard – who is listed as the 96th best overall high school prospect and 17th best point guard prospect in the country for the class of 2008 – as a “great kid and terrific all-around player, with an outstanding understanding of the game.”

Gibbs said members of GU’s coaching staff indicated they would like to develop him as a point guard.

“I know Jeremy Pargo is the only real point guard they have right now,” he explained, “which made it seem like an even a better fit for me.”

Robertson said Gonzaga’s coaches have told him they think of Gibbs as a Matt Bouldin-type player who can shoot, pass and rebound.

“And I think they’re right,” he added. “He’s going to have a great career at the next level.”

Bouldin, who was named to the West Coast Conference All-Freshman Team last winter, is currently playing in Novi Sad, Siberia, as a member of the undefeated USA Basketball U19 team competing in the World Championships. He scored three points and had four fouls in Tuesday’s win over Brazil.