Boldly stepping back into the spotlight after a grueling journey, Steele Venters’ story is one of resilience, patience, and undeniable talent that Gonzaga fans have been waiting to witness unfold firsthand. But here’s where it gets controversial: despite all the hype and anticipation, two years lost to injury have left many questioning if he can truly deliver on the promise that has long surrounded him.
Back in the spring of 2023, Gonzaga faced a harsh reality. After a crushing defeat to UConn, fans were left reeling and struggling to imagine the future. Drew Timme, the school’s all-time top scorer, had already decided to end his college career that season, despite having eligibility left. Following him, Dominick Harris entered the transfer portal early, Efton Reed and Hunter Sallis, who many thought would stick around, also left. Others like Rasir Bolton had maxed out their eligibility, Malachi Smith seemed poised to depart, and Julian Strawther appeared ready for the NBA draft. Even the hope of Anton Watson’s return felt tenuous. During that bleak period, positive news was scarce in Gonzaga territory.
Then came a bright spark in April: Gonzaga landed an unexpected transfer commitment from Steele Venters, a sharpshooter hailing from Ellensburg known across eastern Washington for his remarkable shooting stroke. With Venters joining the squad, one certainty emerged — Gonzaga’s perimeter shooting was in expert hands. Fans finally had a local hero to rally around: buzz-cut sharp, sporting a clean goatee, and a shot that seemed to arc effortlessly before dropping through the net. Reflecting now, it’s remarkable to recall that Venters committed even before Ryan Nembhard joined weeks later. One is already part of Gonzaga’s lore; the other has yet to step on the court.
Unfortunately, fate dealt Steele a tough hand. His rookie year at Gonzaga never got off the ground due to a knee injury in November. After painstaking rehab and a season hungry for his shooting, he suffered another devastating setback: an Achilles injury. Two seasons, zero game appearances. Yet through it all, he remained deeply ingrained in the team — knowing the system, the language, and the flow better than most players who’ve actually played. He stuck it out against the odds. Now, in 2025, he’s a seasoned member of the roster, finally poised to show his worth. The moment his first three-pointer arcs through the air and drops will resonate louder than any single game this season — a much-anticipated chapter in Gonzaga basketball history.
Before coming to Spokane, Steele’s journey began at Eastern Washington University as a walk-on in 2019. Starting with a redshirt year, he gradually transformed into one of EWU’s greatest shooters through relentless effort and consistency. His breakthrough arrived in the COVID-shortened 2020–21 season, where he averaged 16.7 points per game, shooting 45% overall and a staggering 43% from beyond the arc. Even as defenses focused relentlessly on him the following season, Venters maintained a strong 15.3 points per game, helping lead Eastern Washington to an 18-game winning streak—the longest in school history—and a Big Sky regular season championship.
Their run culminated in the NIT, where Venters etched one of the program’s most memorable moments: a 27-point performance in a win over rival Washington State, including a clutch three-pointer to seal the game. By the season’s end, he had scored over 1,000 points, earned Big Sky MVP honors, and established himself as one of the sharpest shooters and most efficient wings in mid-major college basketball. From overlooked walk-on to conference star, the Ellensburg native’s story was still unfolding... until Gonzaga came calling.
Then injuries halted his momentum.
Now, what lies ahead remains a question.
Looking at his numbers from 2022–23 at Eastern Washington paints the clearest picture of what Gonzaga might expect. Despite being the target of every defensive strategy, he posted a 22.6% usage rate and a 107.2 offensive rating. His shooting splits were impressive: 45.7% from the field and 37.1% on three-pointers. He ranked top 10 in the Big Sky for scoring and field goals made, third in made threes, and ninth in shooting efficiency. His shot selection was textbook for a player who capitalizes on any lapse in defensive attention: perfect on dunks, efficient at the rim and mid-range, and most made threes assisted, showing strong team chemistry.
Over 33 games, he reached double digits 28 times and scored 20-plus points on eight occasions, finishing the year with a true shooting percentage just shy of 58%. This is no accident; it reflects a player who doesn’t require heavy volume to impact a game, but whose very presence forces defenses to adjust, creating space and opportunities for his teammates. Gonzaga’s offense will benefit from the clean spacing and the constant threat he provides from deep, something lost after Julian Strawther left.
Steele’s role on the team will depend largely on how the roster shape plays out. Should the eligibility of key players like Tyon Grant-Foster be limited, or if Jalen Warley continues to fill multiple roles, Venters could easily start on the wing and see around 25 minutes per game. In that scenario, he could average 12 to 14 points, along with 3 rebounds and a pair of assists, all while maintaining impressive efficiency above 57% true shooting and consistently positive on-court impact.
If the wing spots remain crowded, his minutes might be closer to 10 or 12 per game, positioning him as a catch-and-shoot specialist tasked with stretching defenses and igniting the offense during bench rotations—a role reminiscent of Gonzaga’s Corey Kispert or Julian Strawther. Either way, this year’s setup represents the best opportunity Venters has ever had: no longer needing to carry the offensive burden himself, supported by strong playmakers and efficient scorers around him, he can focus on making the offense flow smoothly and confidently.
What fans saw at the recent "Kraziness in the Kennel" event offered the clearest glimpse yet of Venters in action within Mark Few’s system. He not only won the three-point shootout by a wide margin but also impressed during the scrimmage, scoring 9 points in 11 minutes, hitting 3 of 4 from deep, with a calm, balanced, and confident style. His long-awaited debut is finally tangible.
Consider the sheer mental and emotional challenge Venters has overcome: enduring the highs of watching from the sidelines and the crushing lows of injury and rehab not once, but twice. The discipline, resilience, and steady commitment he's shown are extraordinary—qualities that few adults, let alone college athletes, can sustain under such pressure. Throughout it all, his trademark look hasn’t changed: the clean haircut, the precise goatee, and a jumper honed through countless hours of practice and repetition.
When stakes are high and fans gather in the Kennel this season, the eruption the moment he drills that first three-pointer will echo far beyond the scoreboard. It will symbolize not just points on the board, but the triumphant return of a player who embodies perseverance and unwavering dedication. After all the setbacks, Steele Venters is finally playing the game he was always destined to play—back where he belongs.
