Sometimes in life, you don’t know what you have until it’s gone.
That’s what senior guard Zek Montgomery realized last spring when he entered the transfer portal for the second time in his collegiate career.
The 6-foot-6-inch senior spent the 2023-2024 season at Rhode Island, where he had an up-and-down year for a team that finished 12-20.
“It was a very eye-opening experience,” Montgomery said. “I played some of my best basketball there and some of my worst. Sometimes the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.”
In his lone season as a Ram, Montgomery averaged 9.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 43 percent from the field and 31.5 percent from three. Montgomery started in just 15 games, in contrast to 25 the year prior at Bradley, and saw a drop in field goal and three-point percentage.
In the 2022-2023 season, he played in 29 games as a Brave, starting the last 11, and played a pivotal role in Bradley’s first regular-season championship since 1996. Even though Montgomery was essential to making history, he wanted a fresh start.
“I wanted to explore something different,” Montgomery said. “It felt like high school all over again. You really do not know where you’re going to land or what coaches will reach out and call you. You have to go out and see where you’d be your best. I chose Rhode Island because an old coach of mine was there.”
“When it was time for me to transfer, the conversation went well,” Montgomery added. “There were no hard feelings between me and coach Wardle.”
Bradley saw similar success the following season, finishing 23-12 and reaching the semi-finals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
Despite the success, Montgomery’s talent was missed last season. With Malevy Leons departing for the NBA and Connor Hickman leaving for Cincinnati, the Braves needed a dynamic scoring weapon capable of defending multiple positions.
“Zek and I left on great terms,” head coach Brian Wardle said. “He’s a really good guy. We had a really good relationship before the portal. In this culture of college basketball, sometimes guys leave for other reasons, and you just have to be open-minded about that relationship with your players.”
“We needed him last year,” Wardle added. “We missed his playmaking and scoring at the guard spots. I feel he was a missing piece for us last year to be even better, so to have him back with Hickman gone and Malevy gone is huge.”
Wardle’s willingness to keep positive relationships and his transparency with players paid dividends during the recruitment process.
“He called me back and said that he didn’t think Rhode Island was going to work out and that he missed it and would love to be back,” Wardle said. “When someone fits your program and has a good character like Zek, you take them back with open arms.”
“He let me know right out the gate what it is and what it ain’t,” Montgomery added. “Other coaches won’t do that.”
Wardle was not alone in his efforts to bring Montgomery back to the program. He had help from two players who had built a lasting relationship with Montgomery.
“It didn’t hurt to see him go because I’m going to always support him,” senior forward Darius Hannah said. “He’s my brother at the end of the day, and we have built a relationship outside of basketball. I’m lucky and proud to have him back to help us win.”
“It means a lot to have Zek back,” senior guard Duke Deen continued. “We all know the type of player and person Zek is, so getting him back was a top priority of mine after losing Hick and Mally.”
Upon returning to the 309, Montgomery received love from not only his team but also the Peoria community.
“It feels like I’m back at home,” Montgomery said. “It feels like I never left. It feels amazing knowing that I have a fanbase that supports me. They’re like a second family to me, and I appreciate them a lot.”
In his second tenure as a Brave, Montgomery has clear goals and a role to fulfill. The senior will be asked to be a secondary ball handler, score and defend. In anticipation of his role on the team, he was selected to the MVC preseason all-conference second team.
“I want to continue to get better,” Montgomery said. “I want to make the NCAA tournament. I was grateful to be named to the second team, but I think I’ll make the first team. I feel like I have to actually prove that.”
In Montgomery’s first game back at Carver Arena against Milikin, he scored nine points and added three steals. His shot was not falling as much as he’d like, but he was able to create open looks that will start to go in the future.
“It felt great to be back out here with my brothers,” Montgomery said. “Especially Duke and Darius and some of the other guys who helped us win a regular-season championship the last time I was here.”
If Montgomery and the rest of the team want to live up to their billing as the preseason favorites in the MVC and make an appearance in the NCAA tournament, they will need him to be even better than the player he was in the 2022-2023 season.
After dominating SEMO in their home opener, the Braves continue their quest to an NCAA Tournament Friday against Washington State.
