Gonzaga Bulldogs Land ASU Transfer Massamba Diop, Bolstering Talented Frontcourt
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ASU Sun Devils center Massamba Diop (35) dunks the ball against the Kansas Jayhawks at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe on March 3, 2026. [/caption]
Bringing in a big fish from the transfer portal, the Gonzaga Bulldogs can cross a big item off their offseason checklist. 7-1 Senegalese center Massamba Diop is on his way to Spokane from Arizona State, picking to play for the Zags over St. John’s for his sophomore season. Diop’s commitment makes the second for GU so far this offseason, joining Houston transfer Isiah Harwell as the newest Zags on the block.
During his first year at the collegiate level, Diop averaged 13.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks a game on 56.9% shooting in 33 starts with the Sun Devils. He was one of the top centers available in this cycle of the transfer portal and – like several of his new teammates – carries notable NBA Draft stock.
The move aligns Diop with the returning Braden Huff to form yet another strong big man duo for the Bulldogs, a season after Huff and third-team All-American Graham Ike were paired up together. Not to mention that the team’s likely starting small forward, 6-7 Davis Fogle, was also retained, giving Gonzaga one of the country’s most talented frontcourts heading into the fall.
When the Zags traveled to Tempe on Nov. 14, Diop scored 11 points, grabbed four boards, and tallied two shots and steals apiece while shooting 4-of-10 from the floor in the Sun Devils’ 77-64 loss.
After ASU officially moved on from former head coach Bobby Hurley and brought in longtime Saint Mary’s head coach Randy Bennett to lead its program, Diop entered the portal on April 8 with a “do not contact" tag, having his sights set on either Gonzaga or St. John’s as his next destination.
A week and a half later, Diop was on a visit in Spokane, where he was spotted on campus with Fogle and Mario Saint-Supéry, another returning player from last season’s roster, as well as with general manager Kurt Bambauer, director of basketball operations Jorge Sanz, and outgoing Bulldog Ismaila Diagne, who recently transferred to San Francisco.
Like many international players who make their way to the US, Diop has experience competing overseas. He played in Spain, where Saint-Supéry and Sanz are from, and he and Diagne were roommates when they played together at the Real Madrid youth academy.
Visiting New York the next weekend to scope out St. John’s, Diop had the choices laid out in front of him. It was a reported coin flip choosing between Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame coaches in Mark Few and Rick Pitino, but the ties between Spain and Senegal, coupled with Gonzaga’s track record of developing bigs over the year, likely sealed the deal.
Diop initially suited up for Gran Canaria’s youth and reserve teams, playing two seasons in Las Palmas, Spain. Diop averaged 6.5 points and 3.1 rebounds while shooting 63% from the field with Dreamland Gran Canaria, before improving to totals of 16.1 points and 7.9 rebounds with Gran Canaria II. Although he was then elevated to Spain’s Liga ACB and EuroCup rotations the following season, Diop didn’t get much run in eight games.
Bringing a massive paint presence, Diop can immediately make a huge impact for the Zags on both ends. In addition to being a seven-footer, he also has a 7-4 wingspan, making him one of the more fearsome defenders to attack inside. His 2.1 blocks per contest last year were second in the Big 12, only behind the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year, Flory Bidunga of Kansas. Simply put, the Bulldogs haven’t had a rim protector with the production Diop can bring since Chet Holmgren. Diop’s 69 blocks nearly double those of 6-7 guard Tyon Grant-Foster, who led the team in rejections (38) last season.
Offensively, he has shown the wherewithal to use his big frame to his advantage both in the dunker spot and when receiving passes. Diop thrives in the pick-and-roll and is an ideal target for lobs, which is good news for the bullish Saint-Supéry, GU’s point guard. Also showcasing a floater game inside the arc, Diop even had the confidence to pull the trigger on some shots from distance. He finished shooting just 8-for-30 (30.8%) from downtown, but has seen visible growth in that area over time.
Early projected starting lineups for Gonzaga in 2026-27 include Diop, Saint-Supéry, Fogle, and freshman Jack Kayil – all of whom have garnered buzz as selections in next year’s NBA Draft. By throwing Braden Huff into the mix as well, who was on an All-American pace before suffering a dislocated knee, the Zags boast one of the nation’s better rosters at this stage of the calendar.
