Could Trent Lockett Be Gonzaga Bound?

Two weeks ago, reports surfaced that Arizona State senior guard Trent Lockett had secured his release from the school in order to be closer to his mother who is battling cancer back in Minnesota.

Speculation immediately commenced about possible destinations, ranging from Minnesota, Wisconsin and the seeming leader in the Lockett sweepstakes, Iowa State.

However, the latest school reportedly in the mix comes as a bit of a surprise.

According to The Spokesman-Review, Gonzaga is now among the possible landing spots for the dynamic playmaker. He would provide a tremendous presence to a team that won 26 games this past season, including one in the NCAA Tournament over West Virginia. The Bulldogs could very well return five of their six leading scorers.

Should this move come to fruition, it would raise some eyebrows in an already complicated situation. While nearly 300 miles closer to his hometown than Tempe, Spokane will still be over 1,300 miles, or a two-and-a-half hour flight, away from Minneapolis. Compared to Ames, Iowa (219 miles) or Madison (276 miles), some may find the decision curious, as well as give credence to the rumors that Lockett may have been pondering a move, as many other Devils have, away from ASU prior to his mother's diagnosis.

However, in many ways, that distance element may in fact rank but third on a destination wish list. First and obviously above all else is the familiy situation and his mother's health. Secondly, as Lockett is due to graduate from ASU this summer, he must find a school that offers a graduate program that ASU does not in order for him to transfer and play right away to avoid the typical one-year waiting period.

No timetable has been set for his decision, but the only certainty in this uncertain situation is that there are very few teams in the nation that would not benefit from Lockett's presence both on and off the court.

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