Show summary Hide summary
Grand Canyon University has added a high-upside frontcourt player this offseason, bringing in Omaha Biliew — a 6-foot-8 forward whose combination of size, perimeter shooting and postseason flashes make him one of the most notable transfers in college basketball this year. The move gives coach Bryce Drew a young, experienced piece who could contribute immediately and alter expectations for GCU’s upcoming season.
Biliew arrives after stops at Iowa State and Wake Forest and arrives with significant high-school pedigree, including national recognition that few programs of Grand Canyon’s profile have landed.
How Biliew fits at GCU
OKC tourism staff celebrated for driving visitor surge
Republicans vow to block $1.776B fund to curb weaponization: budget fight looms
Drew has highlighted Biliew’s experience at the highest levels of college basketball and flagged his mobility near the rim and ability to stretch the floor as direct fits for GCU’s offense. For a program looking to climb in the conference pecking order, adding a forward who can protect the paint and step out to the 3-point line fills multiple strategic needs.
Biliew himself framed the transfer as a chance to play in a system that expects him to make an immediate impact while offering a focused, basketball-first environment for development.
Player snapshot
- Height/Position: 6-foot-8, power forward
- High school: Standout in Iowa — earned McDonald’s All-American honors and finished as a five-star recruit
- College path: Began at Iowa State, transferred to Wake Forest, now at Grand Canyon University
- Recent college numbers: Career highs this past season: 5.7 points, 2.2 rebounds in 19.2 minutes per game; NIT averages jumped to roughly 13 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks per contest
- Notable performance: 18 points and 10 rebounds in Wake Forest’s NIT matchup with NC State
From Iowa prep star to Division I transfer
Biliew’s trajectory began in Iowa, where after a modest freshman season he transferred within the state and quickly blossomed. His senior year — following a prep stop in Missouri — vaulted him into national conversation as a McDonald’s All-American and a top-tier recruit.
At the collegiate level he weighed options that included the NBA developmental path but ultimately chose Division I, spending a season in the Big 12 and then moving to the ACC. Those experiences, particularly the increased responsibility during postseason play, helped shape his readiness for a new role at GCU.
What GCU gains — and what to watch this season
The addition is significant for two reasons: Biliew is the most highly rated recruit in program history, and he brings a blend of defensive activity and perimeter shooting that can expand GCU’s lineups. His ability to play above the rim and protect the basket adds an athletic dimension that opponents will need to account for.
Key questions for the season: will Biliew translate his NIT form to conference play, how quickly he adapts to Drew’s system, and whether GCU can use his versatility to create matchup problems on both ends.
Quick timeline
- High school standout in Iowa; earned McDonald’s All-American honors
- Spent time at Link Year Prep in Branson before returning for senior year
- Chose Iowa State out of high school, later transferred to Wake Forest
- Transferred to Grand Canyon University in the 2024 offseason
For Grand Canyon fans and conference observers, Biliew’s arrival is worth watching: he represents a rare recruiting win for the program and a tangible upgrade in frontcourt athleticism. How quickly that potential turns into wins will shape expectations for both the player and a GCU roster aiming to raise its profile this season.
