Zags add EWU transfer Venters

SPOKANE – Eastern Washington transfer Steele Venters is signing with Gonzaga, the Bulldogs announced in a release on Monday.

Venters, a six-foot-seven wing, is the reigning Big Sky Player of the Year, where he averaged 15.3 points per game and shot 37.1% from the field for the 23-11 Eagles. Over the previous two seasons, the redshirt sophomore has started all 67 games for the Eagles.

"Steele is a great addition to the program," Gonzaga Head Coach Mark Few said in the release. "He is our kind of guy. He did an incredible job at Eastern and was a big part of a successful winning program. I love that he is a hard worker and has made himself better of these years. I think he can be a real major contributor to this year's team."

The newest Bulldogs is a 2019 graduate of Ellensburg High School, where he averaged 23 points, eight rebounds and five assists as a senior. He was a 2A All-State first-team selection by the Associated Press as a junior when he averaged 26 points.

Eastern finished as the 2022-2023 Big Sky Regular Season Champions with Venters leading the charge and qualified for the National Invitational Tournament where they defeated WSU 81-74 in the first round behind a 27-point outing from Venters.