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# Emmanuel Innocenti Enters Transfer Portal, Leaves Gonzaga Devoid of Defense
- URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/emmanuel-innocenti-enters-transfer-portal-leaves-gonzaga-bulldogs-devoid-defense/
- Published: 2026-04-06T19:26:17.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-08T05:47:55.000Z
- Author: Corbin Smith
- Tags: News, Analysis, Gonzaga Men's Basketball, Emmanuel Innocenti

\[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="4137"\]

![  Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Emmanuel Innocenti (5) controls the ball against the Pacific Tigers in the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images  ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/gonzaga-bulldogs-forward-emmanuel-innocenti--285-29-controls-the-ball-against-the-pacific-tigers-in-the-second-half-at-mccarthey-athletic-center--mandatory-credit-3a-james-snook-imagn-images-format-original.jpg)

Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Emmanuel Innocenti (5) controls the ball against the Pacific Tigers in the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images \[/caption\]

With the Gonzaga Bulldogs leaning heavily into the defensive side of the ball entering the 2025-26 season, they had two impactful players in mind that were already on its roster. One was Jalen Warley, who transferred in from Virginia midway through the previous season and is now graduating after a stellar season as the team’s versatile chess piece.

The other was Emmanuel Innocenti, who transferred to the Zags after playing his freshman year with Tarleton State, and was limited to more of a reserve role with GU during the 2024-25 campaign. But after emerging as a key starter for the Bulldogs this past year, Innocenti’s agency, “THE·TEAM”, surprisingly told DraftExpress that the incoming senior intends to enter the transfer portal with one year of eligibility remaining, leaving a larger hole in Gonzaga’s defensive personnel.

The Zags have typically done an admirable job of retaining players year-over-year in this era of frequent player movement, but Innocenti will be headed elsewhere after an impactful season spearheading the Bulldogs’ stout defense, announcing his departure from Spokane four days after redshirt freshman Cade Orness did the same.

Innocenti started in 29 of GU’s 35 games, averaging 6.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.7 assists while shooting 46.9% from the field. His minutes per game (24.3) doubled from his sophomore season and were third overall for Gonzaga, only behind Graham Ike (31.2) and Braden Huff (25.4). He is the first of the team’s rotation to enter the portal, making Innocenti the first Zag to transfer after starting in the majority of GU’s games and averaging 20 or more minutes a contest.

The defensive-minded Innocenti took on opposing teams’ primary ball-handlers game in and game out. He set the tone as the point-of-attack defender on a unit that posted a top 10 defensive rating at 94.1, according to KenPom. Finishing third on the team in steals (36) and starring in his role on the perimeter, the 6-5 wing’s impact on that end of the floor will be sorely missed moving forward.

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But in addition to earning more playing time this past season, Gonzaga also sought more offensive improvement from the Italian wing. Although he started off the year shooting well from the outside, making a season-high five threes in a late November win over Maryland, it didn’t continue. For a team that was in desperate need of shooting by year’s end, Innocenti shot just 28.4% from three-point range. The mark ranked second-worst of the Bulldogs’ rotation regulars, only ahead of Tyon Grant-Foster and not counting Warley, who didn’t attempt a three-pointer all year.

As the season progressed, Innocenti began to find more success when cutting opportunistically and playing more around the basket, as he shot 70.5% on 44 attempts near the rim. He grew more comfortable playing off-the-ball as a connecter between guards Mario Saint-Supery and Davis Fogle, and the 6-9 Ike.

Still, there was likely writing on the wall from Innocenti’s perspective. Even with Ike, Warley, and guard Adam Miller set to graduate, Saint-Supéry took the reins as GU’s starting point guard, Davis Fogle emerged as a confident and capable shot creator, and German guard Jack Kayil is on the way for his freshman campaign in Spokane, another backcourt option who brings noteworthy offensive prowess.

There was a chance Innocenti slid back to more of a bench role, especially when factoring in the return of Braden Huff, who missed the team’s final 17 games with a dislocated knee. The program will also likely look to insert another quality big man in the frontcourt alongside Huff, in place of Ike.

With the Texans, Innocenti made a name for himself as an elite defender and rebounder, earning selections to the All-WAC defensive and All-WAC freshman squads. And as a member of the Zags, he continued to produce, a key factor in two WCC conference tournament championships and a couple of trips to the NCAA Tournament. Now Innocenti looks for a new home, where he can retain starter status while providing most of his value with his back to the basket.