Former Zag JP Batista rejoining Zags as Grad Assistant

August 17, 2022 11:03 AM

Vincent Saglimbeni,

Posted: August 17, 2022 11:03 AM

Updated: August 17, 2022 11:08 AM

by Vincent Saglimbeni

Gonzaga improves to 3-0 with another blowout win — Gonzaga University Men's Basketball

SPOKANE, Wash. — The Gonzaga Bulldogs are welcoming one of their own to their coaching staff.

Former Zag JP Batista will be joining Mark Few’s staff as a graduate assistant. “The Brazilian Bull” wore Zags colors from 2004-2006.

Honored for opportunity to join the @ZagMBB as a Grad Assistant. A chance to grow and to learn from the best. Playing college changed my life, and now I want to share and serve the next generation, and maybe one day provide the same opportunities I had to young players everywhere pic.twitter.com/dblOQzhNwy

— JP BATISTA (@JPBatista13) August 17, 2022

In 62 games, Batista averaged 16.1 points per game and 7.9 rebounds, shooting almost 60 percent from the field and 45.5% from behind the arc.

In the 2005-06 season, Batista shot 58.9 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three.

After leaving GU, Batista played overseas in Lithuania, Latvia, France and Brazil, winning the 2022 FIBA Intercontinental Cup with Flamengo.

Batista joins Brian Michaelson, Stephen Gentry and Gary Bell Jr. as former Zags who are now coaching for the team.

“[I’m] honored for [the] opportunity to join the [Zags] as a grad assistant,” Batista said on his Twitter. “A chance to grow and to learn from the best. Playing college changed my life, and now I want to share and serve the next generation, and maybe one day provide the same opportunities I had to young players everywhere.”

READ: Breaking down Gonzaga men’s basketball’s 2022-23 WCC schedule