Former Gonzaga star Przemek Karnowski joins Arizona basketball coaching staff

The Arizona Wildcats added former Gonzaga Bulldog center Przemek Karnowski to the coaching staff as a graduate assistant on Wednesday, where he will get to reunite with former Gonzaga assistant and current UA head coach Tommy Lloyd.

Karnowski spent five years with Gonzaga from 2012-2017 and was a fan favorite throughout his tenure. He averaged 9.8 points and 5.4 rebounds on 59.5% shooting in college before ultimately getting his career cut short by injuries.

“Shimmy he was one of the smartest players I’ve ever been around,” Lloyd said to reporters on Wednesday. “He thought the game like a coach and he’s a very unique player. So to have someone … with that size and that experience. Just having that body … the beautiful thing about Przemek, he don’t need a blue pad. You can just use his body to hit against, so it’ll be great for all our guys.”

In his first day with the team, Karnowski was already working with Arizona big men Dylan Anderson and Henri Veesaar.

“There’s a ton of value having a big man GA (graduate assistant), and there’s not a lot of them out there,” Lloyd said.

No. 11 Arizona is currently 15-3 despite being sixth in the Pac-12 standings with a 4-3 conference record. With the addition of Karnowski, the Wildcats will look to make a surge in the competitive Pac-12.