GCU flips Ivy League transfer F Nana Owusu-Anane from an initial SMU commitment

Grand Canyon men’s basketball earned a commitment from transfer forward Nana Owusu-Anane on Friday after he had backed out of an earlier commitment to SMU.

The 6-foot-8, 220-pound forward played his first three seasons at Brown University but missed all of last season due to a partially torn labrum. The year prior, he averaged 14.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.3 steals en route to Second Team All-Ivy League honors.

Owusu-Anane has seen incremental improvement from behind the arc each season, with 3-point makes starting at two as a freshman to five as a sophomore before a 22-for-71 (31%) career year as a junior.

He will arrive in Phoenix with 2,082 minutes of experience across 77 games.

When Owusu-Anane first committed this offseason, he did so to SMU in March. At the time, he was considering other offers such as Arizona State, Kansas and Louisville. GCU was also in the mix the first time around before landing him this time.

How does Nana Owusu-Anane fit into GCU’s roster?

As the No. 110 transfer in 247 Sports’ portal rankings, Owusu-Anane ranks only behind UNLV transfer wing Jaden Henley (No. 90) among GCU transfer additions so far this offseason.

He has a case to slide into the starting lineup at the 4 spot, with 7-foot-1 center Dennis Evans appearing to be in line for the starting center spot after not playing last season.

Makaih Williams, the most active player from last year’s roster to remain for next year, will likely take one of the starting backcourt spots, while the remaining two starting spots would likely be up for grabs between Henley, Norfolk State transfer Brian Moore Jr. and Gonzaga transfer Dusty Stromer.

Reserve sharpshooter Caleb Shaw and former Washington center Wilhelm Breidenbach round out the roster for now in what will be head coach Bryce Drew’s sixth season on the job.

He’s made the NCAA Tournament in four of five seasons, but this year’s roster will look dramatically different from the ones that built continuity over that run.

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