Gonzaga’s plans for a stacked 2026-27 season are hanging by a thread, with five of their crucial 11 newcomers still fighting for NCAA eligibility. This isn’t just a minor hurdle, folks, this is the entire foundation for a team that’s looking to bounce back after a tough tournament exit.
The “Big If” Looming Over Few’s Roster Overhaul
Man, last year stung. A 31-4 record before getting knocked out by No. 11 seed Texas in the second round of the NCAA Tournament? Brutal. So Coach Mark Few and the staff went to work, overhauling almost the entire roster. Only four players are back in Spokane for the new season: senior Braden Huff, sophomores Davis Fogle and Parker Jefferson, and walk-on Alonzo Metz. That means 11 new faces, which is wild, but here’s the catch: five of those guys are in eligibility limbo. We’re talking Xaivian Lee, Javon Bennett, and Chauncey Wiggins, who are all from the high school class of 2022 and fighting for their eligibility. Then there are Izan Almansa and Nathan de Sousa, international commits still waiting for the NCAA to clear them. If everyone gets cleared, yeah, this roster is deep and talented. But that’s a HUGE “if,” and it’s got to be driving Few nuts.
Massamba Diop Is The Rim Protector We’ve Been Dreaming Of
While all the buzz has been about the new guards, the biggest addition to this Zags squad is easily Massamba Diop, the 7’1 monster center from Arizona State. This dude is a game-changer! As a freshman last year, he put up 13.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks with the Sun Devils. Seriously, 2.1 blocks as a freshman? That’s insane. He’s a near-perfect fit next to Huff and brings the kind of rim protection the Zags haven’t seen since Holmgren bounced in 2022. Don’t be surprised when you see Diop on the All Pac-12 First Team. He’s even got 2027 NBA draft pick written all over him. This is the kind of big man presence that changes games, plain and simple.
Xaivian Lee Could Be The Engine, If He Plays
Remember when Mario Saint-Supery dipped in mid-July for a pro gig in Spain? Everyone was scrambling to figure out who would replace him. Donovan Dent from UCLA was the hot name, but he ended up at LSU. Good news: Gonzaga landed Xaivian Lee, a talented 6’4 guard who started at Florida last year. Florida, by the way, was the No. 1 team in the country for weeks! Lee is a beast at finishing at the rim, an elite navigator in the pick and roll, and a strong defender who held his own in the SEC after three years at Princeton. He’s supposed to be the “straw that stirs the drink” for the Zags this season, raising both the floor and the ceiling of this program. But yeah, you guessed it, that’s only “if eligible.”
All eyes are now glued on the NCAA’s decisions. The Zags have potentially one of the country’s most talented rosters, but so much of that depends on whether these five crucial players get the green light. The future of the 2026-27 season for Gonzaga literally hangs in the balance. We’re all waiting for the official word!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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