Former NCAA MVP Will Gozum joins PBA Season 50 Rookie Draft pool

After making a name for himself in the NCAA, Will Gozum is ready to take his talents to the next level as he throws his hat into the PBA Season 50 Rookie Draft.

The 6-foot-6 forward-center enters as one of the high-profile prospects in the upcoming draft scheduled for September 7.

Gozum spent three seasons with De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde and emerged as one of the driving forces behind its resurgence in the NCAA under head coach Charles Tiu.

In his return to the NCAA in Season 97 after playing for the University of the Philippines, Benilde fell short of making the Final Four after bowing to the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA in their play-in duel.

But a fired-up Benilde squad came back roaring the next season, topping the team standings after the elimination round with a 14–4 record and eventually setting up a finals showdown with Colegio de San Juan de Letran.

They managed to drag the Knights to a deciding Game 3, with Gozum bagging the MVP plum along with Mythical Five and All-Defensive Team honors. However, the Blazers ran out of steam as Letran completed its three-peat run.

Gozum, who also won MVP honors in the juniors division, helped keep the Blazers competitive the following season, leading them to a third-place finish to close out his collegiate career.

He was, however, sidelined for several months due to a season-ending knee injury sustained while playing for the Quezon Huskers in the 2024 MPBL.

Now, he hopes to bring his game to the PBA as he joins fellow high-profile aspirants such as Jason Brickman, Mark Sangco, LJay Gonzales, Chris Koon, and Sean Quitevis in the draft.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News