Gonzaga just snagged Dayton guard Javon Bennett, finally addressing a gaping hole at point guard that’s been staring them down since Mario Saint-Supery’s sudden departure in mid-July. This guy isn’t just a warm body, either; he’s coming in with a huge resume and is the immediate favorite to start for Mark Few’s squad. This move could be massive for the Zags’ upcoming season, bringing much-needed stability at a critical position.
The Bennett Boost Is Real (and a Little Wild)
Bennett’s eligibility is a whole story in itself, and it screams “NCAA chaos.” He got a fifth year thanks to an injunction ruling in Ohio, which is pretty wild because he wasn’t even in the transfer portal! The NCAA is fighting these individual state cases tooth and nail, creating a massively confusing and frustrating situation for players, coaches, and us fans watching from the sidelines. But for Gonzaga, it’s pure gold. They landed a legit starting-caliber point guard for a top 10 program. This past season was Bennett’s best, posting a career-high 15.8 points, 2.9 assists, and 1.5 steals in 34.5 minutes per game, earning him First Team A-10 honors. The dude knows how to play. He’s started 125 games in his four-year career, 98 of those at Dayton and 27 as a freshman at Merrimack. Imagine him running the show alongside returners Davis Fogle and Braden Huff, plus other new transfer additions like Massamba Diop and Isiah Harwell. That’s a backcourt mix that could be seriously dangerous.
The Dent Dilemma Lingers
But hold up, Zags fans, don’t put all your eggs in the Bennett basket just yet. Just because he’s officially on the roster doesn’t mean Gonzaga has moved on from their other top targets. The big name still out there is former UCLA star Donovan Dent, and his situation is a prime example of the NCAA’s eligibility nightmare across college basketball. The league opted not to grandfather last year’s graduating seniors into the new 5-in-5 rules, opening the floodgates for lawsuits from players fighting for another year. While Bennett successfully navigated the Ohio legal system for his eligibility and the freedom to pursue any school, Dent’s case is still hanging in the balance. He’s part of a lawsuit in the state of California that hasn’t been ruled on yet. A federal court ruling last Friday granted eligibility to all members of the 2022 high school class, but with a huge catch: players aren’t eligible to transfer unless they were already in the transfer portal. That’s a massive roadblock for Dent, meaning, as of this very moment, he’s only eligible to return to UCLA.
What’s Next for the Zags’ Backcourt?
Honestly, it seems pretty unlikely that this transfer caveat, which prevents some players from switching schools while others can, will actually hold up in a court of law. This means there’s a very real chance Donovan Dent ends up fully eligible to play this upcoming season and to sign wherever he pleases. Gonzaga is doing what they can with the information they have right now, but the landscape of college basketball eligibility could shift dramatically any minute. Zags fans should be excited about Bennett, no doubt, but keep your eyes glued to the news because their backcourt could get even more stacked and explosive for the season ahead!
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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