Up until Karnowski committed to Gonzaga, the Zags had lost every single recruiting battle they were engaged in for 2012 talent. What's interesting about that is the Zags had lost out to schools that were on Gonzaga's level or had the added help of being in a BCS conference. Anrio Adams, a shooting guard from Seattle, chose Kansas over Gonzaga. Demarquise Johnson, a shooting guard from Phoenix, engaged in a Evergreen State three way but chose Washington State over UW or Gonzaga. Another shooting guard, Tyrone Wallace of Bakersfield, chose to stay in state and play for Cal. Chris Reyes, another product of the Golden State, went to Saint Mary's. Most recently there was Amadeo Della Valle, an Italian shooting guard who chose Ohio State.
Karnowski was recruited exclusively by schools who made the NCAA tournament in 2012. He passed up the Big East's Marquette, the 2010 national champion and all time great program (with Polish speaking Coach K) in Duke, defending national runner up Kansas, and then the scenic California to play his college basketball with Gonzaga. I was worried by this year's recruiting losses until Karnowski committed. Gonzaga is able to recruit with and beat out the big dogs for top prospects, they just can't win most of the battles, yet.
Read more about Karnowski after the jump.
Przemek Karnowski is one of Europe's top NBA prospects, with scouts comparing him to another European in the NBA, Marc Gasol. Karnowski already has a professional basketball background, as he has played in Poland's top level of basketball, the TBL, for the past season. He and his family arranged a deal with his team that allowed him to play without breaking any of the NCAA's eligibility rules. In his last game with his professional team Karnowski scored 35 points in as many minutes shooting 17 of 18 from the field while pulling down 6 boards. Poland doesn't have one of the top basketball leagues in Europe, but that is an amazing performance nonetheless.
For a player of his size Karnowski is especially mobile, especially on fast breaks. He possesses nice range with his jumper and has developed his ability to roll out of screens and knock down shots during his time in the TBL. Karnowski, despite his bulk, isn't a brute strength type center, he has a soft touch on the ball and often employs the backboard while shooting from the post. A lefty, Karnowski hasn't developed the ability to go to his right as well as he needs to. Gonzaga's coaching staff has been working with another left handed center, Sam Dower, for two years now, so they should be able to help Karnowski develop his right hand.
Defensively, Karnowski is much more of a project, especially athletically. He understands defensive positioning pretty well, and is good at and willing to box out opponents (which is one of the attributes I look for, as it shows an unselfishness that is fading from the game). He averaged only 4.4 rebounds during his season in the TBL. Gonzaga has a number of solid rebounders returning for next season, including the leading rebounder from last season, Elias Harris.
The second leading rebounder last season, who coincidentally played center, Robert Sacre, is being lost to graduation during the offseason. Karnowski doesn't look to start any time next season, unless there is an injury. Sam Dower was Gonzaga's sixth man backing up Sacre the past two seasons, and looks to have an incredible season next year with the starting job. There is also Kelly Olynyk, who is coming off a red shirt year, that looks to back up Dower at this point. At the power forward position is Elias Harris, who is set to have an explosive senior year as he possesses incredible athleticism but needs to have another season on par with his first as a Zag if he wants to be a first round pick in the NBA draft. Harris could move to the small forward position on occasion if Karnowski is playing alongside Dower or Olynyk. I am getting confused working thru the potential starters and bench for next season, so needless to say it's going to be a complex process that the coaches must deal with in setting their line ups. No matter where Karnowski is on the depth chart he will see playing time as a solid back up that allows the veteran bigs, like Olynyk and Harris, to get some rest.
Speaking of Harris and Olynyk, Karnowski is the latest in a long line of international talent to play for Gonzaga. Currently the Ivory Coast (Guy Landry Edi), Germany (Harris, Mathis Monninghoff), Canada (Kevin Pangos, Kelly Olynyk), and now Poland join the United States as countries represented on the Gonzaga roster. Since the 1999 Elite Eight run Gonzaga has had players from France, Mathis Keita; and it's overseas department in the Caribbean, Martinique, Ronny Turiaf; Brazil, J.P. Batista; Australia, Axel Dench; Sudan (via Canada), Bol Kong and Mangisto Arop; and of course the United States. Last season Gonzaga had more players who competed in the 2010 FIBA World Championships than any other NCAA team. Elias Harris for Germany, Robert Sacre and Kelly Olynyk for Canada, and Guy Landry Edi for Ivory Coast. Karnowski, while not on the Polish senior team, is currently on their junior national team.
No doubt did Gonzaga's successful history with international players help them land Karnowski. ESPN has referred to the Zags as America's team, due to the nationwide support they received during their cinderella runs in the NCAA tournament. They very well could be called the world's college basketball team due to the number of international players they have had and have now.
The Zags biggest void for next season has been filled in a big way. Now, if the Zags can land a wing to back up Edi and replace him when he and Mike Hart graduate at the end of next season, Gonzaga will be loaded for the next few seasons. Last year brought a great recruiting class with Kevin Pangos and Gary Bell in the back court. Karnowski got to know Pangos at an international championship last year and even more so on their visit. It seems they already have chemistry off the court, I hope it translates to effectiveness on court as well, because they'll play together for the next three years.
Welcome to the Gonzaga family, Przemek. Best of luck and go Zags!
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