Could former Minnehaha Academy teammates Jalen Suggs and Chet Holmgren reunite in Orlando?
Chet Holmgren sat in a packed Minnehaha Academy gym 13 months ago and announced his commitment to Gonzaga. That was where his good friend and longtime teammate Jalen Suggs had just wrapped his freshman year of college. Yet Holmgren knew the two players would not be teammates in Spokane, Wash.
Because hours later, Suggs announced his decision to turn pro.
“As much as I’ve enjoyed playing with him in the past and want to in the future, he has a really big opportunity in front of him, and I don’t think I would let him turn that down,” Holmgren said. “I’d love to play with him again, but maybe that ends up being in the NBA in a couple years. Who knows? That’s the plan.”
And, after Tuesday’s NBA draft lottery results, that plan could soon become reality.
Orlando selected Suggs with the No. 5 pick in the 2021 draft. On Tuesday, the ping pong balls bounced the Magic’s way, giving Orlando the No. 1 pick in this summer’s draft.
After a standout freshman season at Gonzaga, Holmgren is considered perhaps the favorite to be selected No. 1 overall. Orlando could reunite the Minnehaha Academy teammates.
Holmgren and Suggs are good friends who have played together since they were in middle school. They competed together not only for the Redhawks, but for their Grassroots Sizzle AAU team.
They paired together for three Minnesota high school state titles, and could soon be chasing similar success at the NBA level, with Suggs again tossing alley oops up to the 7-foot center.
The ball is in the Magic’s court.
