Alexander: Jalen Suggs created a March Madness memory

  • UCLA guard Tyger Campbell (10) drives up court ahead of Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs (1) during the first half of a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

  • Gonzaga forward Drew Timme, left, and UCLA forward Cody Riley fight for the opening tipoff at the start of a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

  • UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (4) drives to the basket over Gonzaga guard Joel Ayayi (11) during the first half of a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • UCLA fans cheer before a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game against Gonzaga, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (4) shoots over Gonzaga guard Joel Ayayi (11) during the first half of a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

  • Anton Watson #22 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs competes for the ball with Cody Riley #2 and Jaime Jaquez Jr. #4 of the UCLA Bruins in the first half during the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

  • Anton Watson #22 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs competes for the ball with Cody Riley #2 and Jaime Jaquez Jr. #4 of the UCLA Bruins in the first half during the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

  • Johnny Juzang #3 of the UCLA Bruins reacts in the first half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • Jalen Suggs #1 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs shoots the ball against Jules Bernard #1 of the UCLA Bruins in the first half during the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

  • Drew Timme #2 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs shoots the ball against Cody Riley #2 of the UCLA Bruins in the first half during the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

  • Jaime Jaquez Jr. #4 of the UCLA Bruins shoots the ball in the first half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • Drew Timme #2 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs drives to the basket against Cody Riley #2 of the UCLA Bruins in the first half during the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

  • Tyger Campbell #10 of the UCLA Bruins reacts with Jaime Jaquez Jr. #4 in the first half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • Drew Timme #2 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs shoots the ball against Cody Riley #2 of the UCLA Bruins in the first half during the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

  • Drew Timme #2 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs drives to the basket against Cody Riley #2 of the UCLA Bruins in the first half during the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

  • Drew Timme #2 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs handles the ball against Cody Riley #2 of the UCLA Bruins in the first half during the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

  • Drew Timme #2 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs shoots the ball in the first half against the UCLA Bruins during the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • Johnny Juzang #3 of the UCLA Bruins reacts in the first half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

  • Johnny Juzang #3 of the UCLA Bruins reacts with Cody Riley #2 in the first half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

  • Jaime Jaquez Jr. #4 reacts with Tyger Campbell #10 of the UCLA Bruins in the first half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

  • Tyger Campbell #10 of the UCLA Bruins attempts to control the ball in the first half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

  • Andrew Nembhard #3 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs dribbles against David Singleton #34 of the UCLA Bruins in the first half during the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

  • Head coach Mick Cronin of the UCLA Bruins reacts in the first half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • David Singleton #34 of the UCLA Bruins dribbles in the first half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • Jalen Suggs #1 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs shoots the ball in the first half against the UCLA Bruins during the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

  • Joel Ayayi #11 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs drives to the basket against Jaime Jaquez Jr. #4 and Cody Riley #2 of the UCLA Bruins in the first half during the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

  • Joel Ayayi #11 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs drives to the basket against Jaime Jaquez Jr. #4 and Cody Riley #2 of the UCLA Bruins in the first half during the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

  • Drew Timme #2 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs is introduced before the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal against the UCLA Bruins at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • Tyger Campbell #10 of the UCLA Bruins is introduced before the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • A general view of signage during the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal between the UCLA Bruins and the Gonzaga Bulldogs at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • The Gonzaga Bulldogs huddle before the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal against the UCLA Bruins at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

  • Tyger Campbell #10 of the UCLA Bruins handles the ball against Jalen Suggs #1 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the first half during the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • The Gonzaga Bulldogs huddle in the tunnel before the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal against the UCLA Bruins at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

  • The UCLA Bruins stand in the tunnel prior to the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

  • Tyger Campbell #10 of the UCLA Bruins reacts in the first half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the 2021 NCAA Final Four semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

  • UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (4) shoots over Gonzaga guard Joel Ayayi (11) during the first half of a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

  • UCLA guard Tyger Campbell (10) drives up court ahead of Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs (1) during the first half of a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

  • UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (4) drives to the basket over Gonzaga guard Joel Ayayi (11) during the first half of a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Gonzaga head coach Mark Few directs his team during the first half of a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game against UCLA, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

  • Gonzaga forward Drew Timme (2) tries to block a shot by UCLA guard Tyger Campbell (10) during the first half of a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • UCLA guard Tyger Campbell, left, tries to steal the ball from Gonzaga forward Drew Timme, right, during the first half of a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

  • UCLA forward Cody Riley, right, shoots over Gonzaga forward Drew Timme, left, during the first half of a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

  • UCLA guard Johnny Juzang reacts after making a basket during the first half of a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game against Gonzaga, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (4) picks up a loose ball ahead of Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs, left, during the first half of a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. fights for a loose ball with Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs, left, during the first half of a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs (1) celebrates making the game winning basket against UCLA during overtime in a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Gonzaga won 93-90. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

  • Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs (1) celebrates making the game winning basket against UCLA during overtime in a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Gonzaga won 93-90. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

  • Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs (1) scrambles for a loose ball with UCLA guard Tyger Campbell (10) during the second half of a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

  • UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. fights for a loose ball with Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs, left, during the first half of a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Gonzaga forward Drew Timme (2) drives to the basket ahead of UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr., left, during overtime in a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

  • Gonzaga guard Andrew Nembhard (3) celebrates after making a 3-point basket during overtime in a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game against UCLA, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

  • Gonzaga guard Andrew Nembhard, center, drives to the basket between UCLA forward Cody Riley, left, and guard Johnny Juzang, right, during the first half of a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Gonzaga forward Corey Kispert (24) eyes a loose ball in front of UCLA guard Johnny Juzang (3) during overtime in a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

  • Gonzaga forward Drew Timme (2) grabs a rebound over UCLA guard Johnny Juzang (3) during overtime in a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs (1) shoots over UCLA guard David Singleton (34) to win the game during overtime in a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Gonzaga won 93-90. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

  • Gonzaga forward Drew Timme, left, shoots ahead of UCLA guard Jaylen Clark, right, during the second half of a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

  • Gonzaga guard Joel Ayayi, right, celebrates with teammate guard Andrew Nembhard (3) after making a basket during the first half of a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game against UCLA, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr., right, gets a hug from Gonzaga forward Drew Timme, left, after a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Gonzaga won 93-90 in overtime. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Gonzaga guard Andrew Nembhard, center, drives to the basket between UCLA forward Cody Riley, left, and guard Johnny Juzang, right, during the first half of a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • UCLA forward Cody Riley drives to the basket ahead of Gonzaga forward Drew Timme, left, during the second half of a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs (1) drives to the basket during the first half of a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game against UCLA, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • UCLA head coach Mick Cronin, center, celebrates with his team during the second half of a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game against Gonzaga, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • UCLA guard Tyger Campbell (10) drives to the basket between Gonzaga guard Andrew Nembhard (3) and forward Drew Timme (2) during the second half of a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

  • Gonzaga forward Drew Timme (2) drives to the basket past UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (4) during the first half of a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs (1) shoots over UCLA guard David Singleton (34) to win the game during overtime in a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Gonzaga won 93-90. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs (1) shoots over UCLA guard David Singleton (34) to win the game during overtime in a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Gonzaga won 93-90. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

  • UCLA guard Tyger Campbell (10) shoots ahead of Gonzaga guard Aaron Cook (4) during the second half of a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs (1) celebrates making the game winning basket against UCLA during overtime in a men’s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Gonzaga won 93-90. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

of

Expand

They’ve been replaying it for years at NCAA Tournament time: Grant Hill heaving an inbounds pass three-quarters of the length of the court, Christian Laettner catching it at the free-throw line, and then turning around and making a shot that broke the hearts of the Kentucky Wildcats and their fans.

That game-winner, from the 1992 NCAA Tournament, is about to be replaced. Gonzaga’s Jalen Suggs provided CBS with a new greatest hit for its future highlights packages Saturday night, not to mention the One Shining Moment montage that will air after Monday night’s championship game. It would take the play of all plays to bump this one, the one that delivered a gut punch to UCLA’s Cinderella story.

In the NBA it’s called a shot from the logo, a deep three-pointer from the general vicinity of center court. The pros make them more often than you’d think. Suggs, Gonzaga’s freshman point guard, obviously pays attention to his elders, because the shot he banked in at the end of overtime Saturday night to extinguish UCLA and keep the Zags’ undefeated season alive came from just to the right of the huge “Final Four” logo at center court.

Jalen Suggs’ all-time game-winner against UCLA called by Gonzaga’s IMG radio team of Tom Hudson and Adam Morrison (yes, that Adam Morrison): pic.twitter.com/DBtqdFjenL

— Brian Fonseca (@briannnnf) April 4, 2021

And yes, he works on it in practice.

“Every day in shootaround, we shoot half-courters,” he told CBS sideline reporter Tracy Woodson. “I haven’t been making my half-courters, but I’ve got confidence, I put it up, and … man, it’s crazy. I don’t know. I can’t come up with the words.”

These are the moments, and the plays, that draw us to March Madness™, and that at least for a few moments allow us to forget all of the less savory elements of College Sports Inc. A freshman, whose previous greatest sports experience was playing for a state high school football championship in Minnesota, makes history.

Saves history, actually, enabling Gonzaga to continue its pursuit of the first unbeaten men’s basketball season in 45 seasons Monday night against Baylor. It was the Zags’ narrowest escape, because the Bruins believed they could pull it off – and almost did – even if no one else shared their confidence.

This was Gonzaga’s closest call. UCLA led with 2-1/2 minutes left in regulation, and had the ball with a chance to win when Johnny Juzang committed a charging foul with 1.1 seconds left. They were down 87-83 early in overtime, and 90-85 with 1:15 left, but Jaime Jaquez Jr. drained a three-pointer with 48 seconds left, David Singleton grabbed the rebound of a Corey Kispert miss with 19 seconds left, and Juzang rebounded his own miss and put it in with 3.3 seconds left to make it 90-90.

“I saw Johnny got the miss and put it back in,” Suggs said. “And Corey took it out right away. (I said) “Corey, Corey, come here,” and I got as many dribbles as I can. Tried to get as close as I could. He (Singleton) was actually like right under me. But I just put it up. I was fading away with it. And it went off the backboard and in. I don’t know.”

And the things a young player thinks of after a moment like that …

“I’ve always wanted to run up on the table like Kobe and D-Wade,” he said, thinking of memorable celebrations by Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade. “And that’s the first thing I did.

“Man, that is something that you practice on your mini hoop as a kid or in the gym just messing around. And to be able to do that, it’s crazy.

Gonzaga coach Mark Few didn’t call timeout to set up an inbounds play but said he “was wondering if we were ever going to get it out of the net. I thought we might need a timeout there. I was getting ready to yell at the guys. Then they got it in, and I knew we were good because it was in Jalen’s hands.

” … We haven’t had many games like this, but we worked on it a lot. We probably worked on more end-game situations this year than I ever have just because I knew we needed that. And he makes shots — he’s got that magical aura. He makes them in practice all the time. It’s been crazy this year how many he’s made in practice, last-second shots. I felt pretty good. I was staring right at it. And I said it’s in. And it was.”

Earlier, the 6-foot-4 Suggs came up with – well, not an equally big play, but pretty darned significant, when he blocked 6-9 Cody Riley at the rim with two minutes left in regulation, grabbed the defensive rebound and found Drew Timme streaking downcourt for a fast-break dunk that put the Bulldogs in front, 79-77.

Suggs played 40 of the 45 minutes and contributed 16 points, including two 3-pointers, as well as five rebounds, six assists, a block and two steals, and the primary defensive responsibility on Juzang. And while we long ago came to terms with the idea of Gonzaga as a national power, it’s worth noting that Suggs – ranked fifth in ESPN’s top 100 high school players in the Class of 2020 out of Minnehaha Academy in West St. Paul, Minn. – is the program’s highest-rated recruit, and only its second McDonald’s All-American.

“I’ve always said a football game, section championship against Benilde-St. Margaret’s my senior year, was my greatest sports moment I’ve been a part of,” he said. “(This) skyrockets above that. I mean, it was nuts. And I still can’t speak. I have so many things going on in my head. I just can’t believe that happened. I don’t think it’s really going to hit me until I wake up tomorrow. But, I mean, tonight was special.”

And it’s going to live forever, or at least until the next memorable buzzer-beater.

jalexander@scng.com

@Jim_Alexander on Twitter

from Irvine Business Signs https://ift.tt/3mjkYcV
via Irvine Sign Company

from Irvine Business Signs https://ift.tt/3ul4jIW
via Irvine Sign Company

from Irvine Business Signs https://ift.tt/3rTHXfQ
via Irvine Sign Company

from Irvine Business Signs https://ift.tt/3rOeXWP
via Irvine Sign Company