Analyzing Khalif Battle, Augustas Marciulionis, and Braden Huff in the 2025 West Coast Conference Tournament Championship Game

March 12th, 2025

Yesterday, I took the time to watch Gonzaga play against Saint Mary’s in the 2025 West Coast Conference tournament championship game. This was an opportunity to watch numerous prospects play, as well as to get a look at Saint Mary’s, who will likely also end up in the NCAA Tournament this year. It was a defensive battle in which both teams defended well but struggled to make shots, but Gonzaga was able to hold on to get the win. Here are my thoughts on how various prospects fared in this game.

Khalif Battle scored 14 points, and had 5 steals and 3 assists in his team’s 58-51 win over Saint Mary’s yesterday. (Photo: Tyler Tjomsland/The Spokesman-Review)

Gonzaga’s 6-5 senior guard, Khalif Battle had a solid showing to help lead his team to a win over Saint Mary’s. He played much better than the box score stats indicated, and despite not making a three-pointer in this game, he is an athletic, skilled combo guard that thrived at making plays on both ends of the floor.

Battle showed a solid ability to score off the dribble. He is an athletic guard that has a quick first step to the hoop, and he showed good balance to consistently finish plays around the basket. He also showed good touch to make a mid-range floater, and he also ran the floor and caught a lob to score on a very impressive, highlight reel-worthy, alley-oop dunk on the break late in this game. While he didn’t make any threes, his ability to make high-motor plays and score off the dribble helped Gonzaga in this game.

Plus, he also passed and handled the ball very well. Battle showed a knack for making passes off the dribble and finding teammates on the move to create plenty of scoring chances for his teammates. Though he didn’t grab many rebounds in this game, Battle was able to get a pair of boards when he was on the floor. Also, Battle played terrific defense in this game. He is a very active help defender that would apply heavy ball pressure, as he would force passing turnovers and misses, and he would jump passes and on loose balls to help his team get a plethora of steals.

Overall, Battle played well to help his team get a big win over Saint Mary’s in this game. He is an athletic guard that has a versatile skill set, and he could end up being an effective role player in the NBA.

Augustas Marciulonis had 12 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, and 1 block in his team’s 58-51 loss to Gonzaga yesterday. (Photo: John Locher/Associated Press)

Saint Mary’s 6-4 senior point guard, Augustas Marciulionis also played very well in his team’s tough loss to Gonzaga. Son of Golden State Warriors’ great Sarunas Marciulionis, Augustas Marciulionis excelled primarily as a shooter, scorer, and playmaker, as he was very effective in his role as the lead ball handler on his team.

Marciulionis did a good job of scoring off the dribble. He is a crafty, agile playmaker that showed good footwork and scoring touch, as he was able to often excel at going to his left to score, and he was able to score on a fadeaway jumper, as well as split a double team to score on a crafty layup off the glass. He also showed off a solid mid-range jump shot, but he didn’t take many threes and did not make any of his three-pointers that he took from beyond the arc. Despite that, he showed that he is a crafty scorer that can weave past defenders to score consistently in an impressive fashion.

Also, he showcased good playmaking skills in this game. He is a smart, patient point guard that tends to make high quality reads on the floor, and he generally excelled at making timely touch passes both off the dribble and at finding teammates on the move to rack up assists. On the downside, sometimes he would try to overtly force the issue due to rushing, which led him to commit a couple of turnovers. Still, Marciulionis consistently made sound plays on offense in this game.

He also did an adequate job of rebounding the basketball. Defensively, he looked to be about average at best. On one good play, Marciulionis was able to jump on a loose ball that was poked to him to help his team get a steal. He also managed to block a shot in this game. On the downside, there were times where he struggled to defend quicker ball handlers, which would lead him to commit fouls and allow scores.

In summary, Augustas Marciulionis is a very skilled, crafty point guard that excelled as a shot maker and facilitator on offense. He could be a very good pick for an NBA team in the second round of the 2025 draft, and he could end up being a solid role player in the NBA.

Braden Huff scored 18 points and made a three-pointer in his team’s 58-51 win over Saint Mary’s.
(Photo: James Snook/Imagn Images, via MSN)

Gonzaga’s 6-10 sophomore center, Braden Huff also had a solid showing to help lead his team to a win over Saint Mary’s. He is a mobile, skilled big man that showed off a variety of scoring skills, and he played well to help his team get the victory.

Huff did a good job of scoring out of the post. He is a crafty scorer that has good scoring touch, as he can score on turnaround jumpers, and has the footwork and shot fake that can enable him to consistently score and draw free fouls upon his defenders. He also excelled at scoring on hustle plays. Plus, he also was able to make an open three off the catch, as well as a mid-range jumper after setting a screen for his teammate, although he struggled to make outside shots consistently.

He also showcased satisfactory playmaking skills. Huff passed the ball well, and he showed that he can find teammates on the move to set up scoring chances for them. Plus, he would set screens and roll off of them, and he would put himself in chances where he can score in catch and shoot situations.

Also, he was able to get his fair share of boards. While he didn’t grab many defensive rebounds, Huff was able to get a handful of offensive boards in this game. Plus, Huff also defended very well. He is an active help defender that was able to stay with his man on a drive to block a shot out of bounds, and he also would get his hands on passes and poke balls away to help his team get steals. Plus, he would often contest shots to force misses. Sometimes though, he would give up a bit too much space to shooters, and every once in a while, he would over-rotate and leave his man open when defending in screen situations.

In general, Braden Huff turned in a very solid all-around performance to help Gonzaga get the win and the West Coast Conference championship over Saint Mary’s. He is a mobile, skilled big man that especially played well in the first half, and his size, ability to make shots, and mobility could enable him to be a solid rotational big man in the NBA.

Saint Mary’s 6-10 senior center, Mitchell Saxen also had a solid showing in his team’s tough loss to Gonzaga. He is a tall, skilled big man that showed off some scoring skills, and he was able to make some solid plays on both ends of the floor. He’ll still need to expand his shooting range, preferably to beyond the arc, but Saxen generally played well in this game.

Saxen really excelled at scoring on the move, particularly on rolls to the rim. He is a mobile big man that is a better athlete than advertised, and he was able to throw down a dunk, as well as use a pump fake to score around the basket. He showed a knack for slipping past the defenses after setting screens to finish plays at the rim. He also excelled at scoring on strong drives to the basket, and he particularly excels at going to his left to do so. He also showed off a solid mid-range shot, as he can make them off the catch or dribble. He also managed to score on a jump hook off the glass when posting up once, although he struggled to consistently score on jump hooks.

He also showcased fairly average playmaking skills. Saxen would throw timely touch passes to get the ball to his teammates, although they had trouble converting on those possessions. On the downside, he would struggle to protect the basketball, as he would get balls poked away to commit turnovers, and he also threw a hasty pass that got picked off once.

Also, he was able to get boards on both ends of the floor to get his fair share of rebounds. Saxen also defended well. He showed good timing, length, and recovery speed, and he excelled as a shot blocker to help his team protect the paint. He hustled back to swat a shot to prevent an opponent from scoring on the break, and he also blocked a shot off of a drive another time. He also would jump passes and on loose balls to help his team get steals, and he would contest a variety of shots to force misses. Plus, he also has the size, strength, and positioning to get stops down low.

Overall, Mitchell Saxen played well in his team’s loss to Gonzaga. He showed that he can score and defend, especially in the paint, and while he will need to add a reliable outside shot to his arsenal, and he is a productive big man that may have what it takes to make it to the NBA.

Ryan Nembhard had a satisfactory showing in his team’s win over Saint Mary’s. He is an agile, skilled point guard that tended to make timely passes off the dribble to rack up assists due to possessing good court vision, and he also excelled as a scorer off the dribble and mid-range shooter to help his team on offense. He also defended well, as he would poke balls away and jump on loose balls to help his team get steals and deflections. On the downside, he did not make a single three-pointer in this game. Still, Nembhard played fairly well, and he has the basketball IQ and skills to be a backup point guard at the NBA level.

Graham Ike had a decent showing in his team’s win over Saint Mary’s. He did a decent job of scoring out of the post, and he was active in looking to score on hustle plays in this game. He has the strength, footwork, and shooting touch to make shots around the basket, and he also was able to score on a tough, fadeaway jumper from the baseline early on. He also would slip past the defenses to score at times. However, sometimes he would take tough, contested shots that would lead to misses. He also had trouble making mid-range jumpers from further out, and he will need to add a reliable outside shot to his arsenal.

He also passed the ball well, and he threw good touch passes to set up scoring chances for his teammates. He also did a decent job of rebounding the basketball. He also played adequate defense. He has the strength to hold his ground when defending in the post to force misses, and he also contested a deep three to get a stop late in the game. However, he would sometimes play too aggressively, which would lead him to commit fouls and allow scores.

Overall, Ike had an okay performance in his team’s win over Saint Mary’s. He is a tough, mobile big man that can make plays in the paint, but he will need to add a reliable outside shot to the mix, but his skills, production, and pedigree could enable him to compete for a roster spot in the NBA someday.

Saint Mary’s 6-6 senior swingman, Luke Barrett had a satisfactory showing in his team’s tough loss to Gonzaga. He excelled as a scorer and defender in this game, but did not make a three-pointer and was fairly turnover prone on offense.

Barrett generally excelled at scoring on crafty drives to the hoop. He has a better than expected first step to the hoop, and he has long arms that allow him to finish plays around the basket. He also was able to run off of a screen to get the ball, as he drove in powerfully to score on an acrobatic layup another time. Plus, he also excelled at scoring on hustle plays. He didn’t shoot the ball well from the outside, but he generally excelled at attacking the hoop to score the basketball.

Barrett was able to make a drive and dish to find a teammate to notch an assist once. However, he would also tend to throw hasty, inaccurate passes that would get intercepted, and he also got stripped on a drive that led him to commit another turnover.

Also, Barrett rebounded the ball very well, and he is the athleticism, motor, and instincts to haul in numerous boards when he is on the floor. He also defended well. He would use his length and stay in front of his man to contest a variety of shots to force misses. On one play though, he got beat off the dribble along the baseline to allow a score.

Overall, Barrett played fairly well in his team’s loss to Gonzaga. He’ll need to improve his jump shot and will need to be more assertive on offense, but he is a skilled swingman that could carve out a fairly solid playing career in international basketball when his collegiate career ends.

Nolan Hickman is an athletic combo guard that plays for Gonzaga, but he was a non-factor for most of the game. He didn’t shoot particularly well and he missed all of his threes, but he did make some plays to help his team on both ends of the floor.

Despite not shooting the ball well overall, Hickman was able to run off of a ball screen to make a quick mid-range floater along the baseline to showcase his potential to excel as a movement shooter. He also generally passed the ball well, and he threw a crisp, accurate lob pass to set up a score for his teammate on the break.

On the downside, he didn’t grab a single rebound in this game. Hickman defended well, and he would jump on loose balls and was able to poke a ball away to help his team get steals. He also would actively contest threes to force misses.

Overall, Hickman didn’t make many shots in this game despite being an agile shot maker on Gonzaga, but he excelled in other ways, namely as a facilitator and defender when he was on the floor. He is a second round prospect that will need to be more consistent in games, but his ability to contribute in a variety of ways could enable him to make it to the NBA someday.

Michael Ajayi was pretty much a non-factor for most of this game, as he also surprisingly didn’t play much in his team’s win over Saint Mary’s. That said, he defended well, as he excelled at using his length, athleticism, and timing to contest a variety of shots to force misses. Overall, this game wasn’t the best showcase for his skills, but Ajayi is an athletic combo forward that projects into a 3 and D role at the NBA level.

Paulius Marauskas was held scoreless and he played very poorly in his team’s loss to Gonzaga. His performance was very bad, and it was as if he didn’t even show up or come to play in this game.

Murauskas really struggled to make outside shots or to score out of the post, but he was able to use a spin on the baseline to draw a non-shooting foul out of the post once. He did display perhaps adequate playmaking skills, and he was able to kick the ball out to a teammate on the move to set up a scoring chance that time.

He also was able to get a few boards in limited minutes to showcase his rebounding skills. He didn’t defend well though, and on one play when defending a bigger player in the post on the baseline, he ended up fouling his man and giving up a score that time. Overall, Murauskas’ performance was extremely disappointing, and he didn’t play well at all in his team’s loss to Gonzaga. He’ll really need to improve his jump shot, and he’ll need to improve his ability to play well in big games, which could help him considerably, especially if he’s looking to make it to the NBA someday.

Ben Gregg didn’t have a noticeable impact for most of this game, but he did throw down a tremendous, powerful dunk off of a quick cut in traffic to give Gonzaga a boost midway through this game. He missed both of his threes however, but he did show that he is an athletic big man that can score on hustle plays. He also did a decent job of rebounding the basketball. Overalll, he’ll need to be more consistent in games, but he is a big man that has a solid blend of size and physical tools, which could enable him to make it to the NBA someday.

All in all, those are my thoughts on how Battle, Marciulionis, Huff, and other various prospects fared in this game. Thanks for reading.