Steele Venters, the acclaimed 6-foot-7 redshirt junior wing, has officially received clearance to return to the basketball court at Gonzaga University. This approval comes through the collaborative efforts of Assistant Athletic Director and men’s basketball’s health and performance coach Josh Therrien, alongside strength and conditioning coach Travis Knight. Venters’ return is highly anticipated, as he has not participated in a collegiate game since March 19, 2023, when his former team, Eastern Washington, competed in the National Invitational Tournament.

Venters is eager to regain the exceptional form that saw him named Big Sky Player of the Year in the 2022-23 season. His journey to the court at Gonzaga has been fraught with significant setbacks. After transferring to Gonzaga and preparing for the 2023-24 season, he tragically suffered a torn ACL just two days before the season was set to begin. This injury sidelined him for the entire year. As he looked ahead to the 2024-25 campaign, misfortune struck again when he injured his Achilles tendon during an August practice, forcing him to miss yet another full season.

Prior to his string of injuries, Venters had a remarkable career with the Eastern Washington Eagles from 2020 to 2023. Over 84 games played, the Ellensburg native showcased his versatile offensive capabilities, averaging 13.5 points per game. His shooting percentages were impressive, with a 45.4% field goal percentage, a 40.3% three-point percentage, and an 84.6% free throw percentage. Beyond scoring, Venters also contributed significantly with averages of 3.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game, achieved over 27.9 minutes on the court.

His consistent performance earned him considerable recognition during his tenure with Eastern Washington. He was named to the All-Big Sky First Team in the 2022-23 season, building on his previous achievement of being selected for the All-Big Sky Second Team in 2021-22. Now 24 years old, Venters is poised to make his long-awaited public debut at the McCarthey Athletic Center during the annual Kraziness in the Kennel event, scheduled for October 4th, marking a pivotal moment in his collegiate career at Gonzaga.