Gonzaga Adds Fifth-Year Guard Javon Bennett From Dayton to Fortify Backcourt
There will be plenty of movement in college basketball over the next several weeks as more “5-in-5” NCAA lawsuits get settled.
Although some cases across the country that the Gonzaga Bulldogs are monitoring are still active, an Ohio judge granted an injunction for 15 players back on July 9. One of the players involved in the Ohio lawsuit was 5-10 Javon Bennett, who spent the last three seasons at Dayton, committed to the Zags on Wednesday, first reported by On3’s Joe Tipton.
Facing severe turmoil in their backcourt over the last few months, the Bulldogs add an experienced, productive guard who should give them solid minutes this upcoming season.
Colorado Court Ruling Opens Doors For Gonzaga to Make Key Roster Additions
Just when it seems college athletics couldn’t get any crazier, they somehow find a way.
On Friday, Judge Charlotte Sweeney granted a preliminary injunction for the entire high school class of 2022, while handling a Colorado lawsuit that originally involved 11 student-athletes. The ruling declared all vying players eligible for a fifth collegiate season, making them available to play in the upcoming 2026-27 season.
It all seems like a perfect storm for the Gonzaga Bulldogs, which has experienced several unpredictable roster developments this offseason. So with this wave of experienced, decorated players back in the talent pool, what are the next steps for the Zags, who still have clear personnel holes as the calendar flips to August?
Gonzaga Guard Juwan Ekanga-Ehawa Flashes Tools For France in EuroBasket
Although he will likely play a limited role for the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the 2025-26 season, 18-year-old Juwan Ekanga-Ehawa is gaining more competitive experience on the international stage.
The 6-6 guard suited up for France at the FIBA U20 EuroBasket competition, hosted in Slovenia during July. France went 5-2, eventually falling to Spain in the third-place match. Ekanga-Ehawa flashed promising traits and tools that drew the Zags to him, while also showing areas where he needs improvement before he can become a regular rotation contributor in Spokane.
Recapping the Summer League Play of Five Former Gonzaga Bulldogs
With hopes of earning solidified spots on NBA rosters later this fall, five former Gonzaga Bulldogs competed in the NBA Summer League that wrapped up this past week. Three of them were Zags as recently as this past season, while the other two are now more than a year removed from the last time they suited up in Spokane.
Because of the lack of draft pedigree in this group – all but one of them went undrafted – playing time fluctuated between them. Although some yearned for better showings in what they could bring to the floor, others left notable impressions during the two-week slate, including two that played big roles in their respective teams stacking victories.
How did each of these ex-Bulldogs fare during the offseason circuit?
How Significant is Departure of Gonzaga Assistant Jorge Sanz?
Although it can be easy to initially brush off a member of Gonzaga head coach Mark Few’s staff moving on to a different program, you would be hard-pressed to find an assistant as impactful as Jorge Sanz was to the Zags.
Sanz, who has been in Spokane for the last eight years, announced that he is leaving GU on social media. First reported by House of Krause, Sanz will join head coach Michael Malone’s staff at North Carolina. Serving as both an assistant coach and director of basketball operations, Sanz played an imperative role in Gonzaga’s international recruiting, nonconference scheduling, player development, and analytical advancement.
The Bulldogs have experienced several significant departures this offseason, notably losing commitments from their intended starting backcourt, Jack Kayil and Mario Saint-Supéry. But Sanz’s exit hurts both the program in its current timeline and in the future, and his role will be hard to replace.
Mario Saint-Supery Shockingly Leaves Gonzaga, Plans to Play With Valencia in Spain
Up until two months ago, Gonzaga was able to dream of deploying a starting backcourt of Mario Saint-Supéry and Jack Kayil for the 2026-27 season. Now in mid-July, neither player is on the roster.
Saint-Supéry, who appeared in all 35 games for the Zags last year and started in 17, announced Saturday that he was leaving Spokane to play for Valencia Basket back in his home country of Spain.
This decision is truly shocking for the Bulldogs. Not only is it crushing to lose your starting point guard this late in the offseason, but it is compounded by Kayil’s decision to stay in the NBA Draft process in May. Gonzaga will likely attempt to replace Saint-Supéry with another international player or resort to the traditional transfer portal. Still, options are severely limited with just four months to go until the regular season.
Gonzaga Brings in Saint Francis Transfer Skylar Wicks, Strengthen Wing Depth
Last season, the wings on Gonzaga’s roster held things together.
Whether it was Jalen Warley being a Swiss Army knife, Tyon Grant-Foster providing timely moments on both ends, or Davis Fogle stepping up with clutch shotmaking as a freshman, this position group played a huge role in the Zags going 31-4.
Only Fogle remains from that cluster, and incomers Isiah Harwell and Luca Foster figure to fill in as well, but GU supplemented its wing personnel after landing 6-6 transfer Skylar Wicks from Saint Francis. He becomes the third traditional transfer addition of the offseason for Gonzaga, and its eighth different incoming player.
The 26-year-old has followed a collegiate tenure similar to that of Grant-Foster, raising questions about his eligibility status for next season. But if all goes well, Wicks brings valued experience and scoring prowess at all three levels to the Bulldogs.
WATCH: Tyon Grant-Foster, Ex-Gonzaga Stars Aim to Impress in NBA Summer League
Though the Gonzaga Bulldogs did not have any players drafted into the NBA for a second straight year, a trio of players will suit up for the summer league seeking an opportunity to an extended audition in training camp in October.
Emerald City Spectrum reporter Howard Woodard dives into the upcoming summer league debuts for former Gonzaga stars Graham Ike, Jalen Warley, and Tyon Grant-Foster, discussing what to watch from the trio and what they each need to show this summer to improve their chances of earning a roster spot for the start of the 2026-27 season.
Two Gonzaga Legends Inducted into Hooptown Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Continuing to add accolades to storybook careers, two former Gonzaga Bulldogs received prestigious honors for their impacts in the Spokane area this month.
Ex-GU head coach Dan Fitzgerald and former Zag player Jeff Brown were inducted into the Hooptown Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026. The gallery honors those in the Inland Northwest who made an impact on Spokane’s basketball community, which they certainly did during their tenures with Gonzaga’s men’s basketball program in the late 20th century. This year’s class also features Kim Eng, Emily Westerburg, and the 2006-08 Ferris boys’ basketball team.
Holding its inaugural induction ceremony in 2022, the Hooptown Hall of Fame pairs Fitzgerald and Brown with an already sizable group of Zags, including Mark Few, John Stockton, the 1999 men’s squad, Adam Morrison, current women’s assistant coach Stacy Clinesmith, Tammy Tibbles, and Heather Bowman.
Securing Another Frenchman, Gonzaga Signs Experienced Point Guard to Roster
Putting the finishing touches on their 2026-27 roster, the Gonzaga Bulldogs made another addition to the backcourt, reportedly completing the recruitment of Nathan De Sousa from France.
The 6-1 point guard has spent the last six seasons playing professionally in his native country, breaking out this past year in the premier French league. De Sousa becomes the second player from France to join the Zags this offseason, as 18-year-old guard Juwan Ekanga-Ehawa finalized his commitment with GU last week.
With the new NCAA Division I Cabinet rules set in place, the 23-year-old will have only one year of eligibility since his ‘five-year window’ of finishing four seasons in five years started during the 2022-23 campaign. Part of a substantial roster overhaul, De Sousa will be the eighth Bulldog who is in their first year in Spokane.
Former Gonzaga Wings Tyon Grant-Foster, Jalen Warley Sign Summer League Deals
Last week, ex-Gonzaga Bulldog Tyon Grant-Foster was finally cleared by the NBA’s fitness-to-play panel, making him eligible for league-affiliated activities. This week, the 6-7 wing has agreed to a Summer League contract with the San Antonio Spurs, joining the reigning Western Conference Champions’ offseason circuit. Grant-Foster earns this opportunity despite not being authorized to participate in this cycle’s pre-draft events, like the NBA Combine, as well as individual or group workouts.
Also latching on in the Summer League is Grant-Foster’s former teammate, Jalen Warley, who signs on with one of the teams he had a pre-draft workout with, the Indiana Pacers. Now, both former Zags get to showcase their games over the coming weeks with the hope of earning a more standard contract for the regular season.
Gonzaga NBA Draft Recap: Graham Ike Signs With Warriors, Jack Kayil Taken by Knicks
For the second straight year, the Gonzaga Bulldogs weren’t represented in the 60 available slots of the NBA Draft.
But shortly after 2026’s “Mr. Irrelevant”, Malique Lewis, was selected by the Washington Wizards, former Zag Graham Ike didn’t remain without a team for long, reportedly agreeing to an Exhibit-10 deal with the Golden State Warriors, first reported by The Consensus NBA. Just like Ryan Nembhard did last summer with the Dallas Mavericks, Ike will look to break into the NBA after being an undrafted free agent.
Meanwhile, ex-Zag commit Jack Kayil was one of the prospects who did hear his name called in Brooklyn. Although the reported first-round feedback he received didn’t come to fruition, his chapter with the Bulldogs officially came to an end after the reigning champion New York Knicks selected him 39th overall on Wednesday.
Recapping Seasons of Five Former Gonzaga Bulldogs That Missed NBA Playoffs
To cap off the 2025 NBA season, just days before the offseason officially begins with the draft, free agency, and noteworthy trades, let’s look at five ex-Gonzaga Bulldogs who played on underperforming teams this past year.
From a rookie joining his brother in the pros to a longtime G-League player finally getting an opportunity, these Zags were still involved in notable storylines throughout the year, potentially paving the way to be larger contributors for contenders when next season rolls around.
WATCH: Graham Ike’s Stock Rising Among Gonzaga’s NBA Draft Hopefuls
After a strong finish to his college career at Gonzaga, Graham Ike has sights set on climbing up draft boards as he jumps to the NBA with a growing list of potential suitors for his talents.
Emerald City Spectrum reporter Howard Woodard discusses the latest developments on Ike's NBA push, including several interested teams who have taken a closer look at the former Zags star, along with the latest on other Bulldogs such as Tyon Grant-Foster who are aiming for a chance in the association.
Tyon Grant-Foster Cleared by NBA After Final Collegiate Season with Gonzaga
Unlike some of his former teammates at Gonzaga in Graham Ike and Jalen Warley, Tyon Grant-Foster hasn’t received much, if any at all, NBA Draft buzz since he walked off a college court for the final time back in March.
That wasn’t without reason, as it was announced that Grant-Foster has now officially been cleared by the NBA’s fitness-to-play panel, making him eligible to compete in activities affiliated with the association. The 26-year-old notably missed two seasons during his time in college after experiencing two separate cardiac arrests, needing a defibrillator implanted before he could return to the floor for the 2023-24 season. Following his two years with Grand Canyon after his second heart issue, Grant-Foster transferred to the Zags for his final season in the NCAA, finally getting his eligibility waived during an injunction hearing one week before GU’s first game of the regular season.
Gonzaga Finalizes Commitment From French Guard Juwan Ekanga-Ehawa
Exit one young French guard, enter another.
Saturday at 2 PM PT was the deadline for international players to withdraw from the NBA Draft, and to no surprise, Jack Kayil remained in the process and looks to hear his name called early next week in Brooklyn. But the Gonzaga Bulldogs have already been operating on the conclusion that he was never re-routing back to Spokane.
Pivoting to a countryman of Kayil, the Zags have reportedly landed a commitment from 6-5 combo guard Juwan Ekanga-Ehawa, adding the talented 18-year-old into a backcourt that already includes Mario Saint-Supéry and Isiah Harwell. The move marks GU’s seventh added player of the offseason, and its third incoming freshman.
Recapping Seasons of Seven Former Gonzaga Bulldogs That Made NBA Playoffs
With the NBA season now officially at its end after the New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games and the NBA Draft being just over a week away, it’s time to check in on Gonzaga alums who got a taste of the 2025-26 NBA postseason.
From All-NBA honorees to two-way players, the Zags were once again one of the association’s more well-represented collegiate programs. 13 former Bulldogs logged NBA minutes this past season, and nearly all of them took noteworthy steps in their careers – for better or for worse. Seven of them played on teams that made the playoffs, each featuring in varying roles for their respective squads.
Two Serbian Players Could Help Fill Holes on Gonzaga’s Roster
With four spots still open on its roster for the 2026-27 season, the Gonzaga Bulldogs are continuing to fire darts down a familiar path.
Serbian teenagers Nikola Kusturica and Savo Drezgić are names to watch as new Zags additions, potentially filling roles as a versatile wing and a secondary ball-handler, respectively. They each have played professionally overseas, with the latter having already logged time in the NCAA.
No stranger to the international scene, GU will run out Mario Saint-Supéry and Massamba Diop in its starting lineup this fall, with Izan Almansa possibly coming off the bench. And for about six months, they had a commitment from German guard Jack Kayil. As is the case for Almansa and many other foreign prospects going forward, there will be eligibility questions with both Kustrurica and Drezgić, not even factoring in the obstacle of outbidding other high-profile programs, but landing these two players would bolster the Bulldogs’ depth and ceiling next season.
Gonzaga Prep Product Carter Nilson Follows in Father's Footsteps, Commits to Bulldogs
The 1999-00 season was Mark Few’s first as head coach of the Gonzaga Bulldogs. His senior class that season included 6-5 guard Mike Nilson, who won WCC Defensive Player of the Year and fueled the Zags to an Elite Eight finish in his fourth and final year with the program.
26 years later, Mike’s son, Carter Nilson, will also play under Few, as the Gonzaga prep graduate reportedly committed to GU, planning to play collegiate basketball in Spokane. It will be the first time that a father-son duo both play under Few in his tenure at the helm, besting John and David Stockton, with the former finishing his Zag tenure in 1984.
Carter’s role will be similar to a walk-on, but with the new language from the settlement in House v. NCAA, he will be on scholarship like every other men’s basketball student-athlete in the country. Currently, he slots in as the 11th player on Gonzaga’s roster, joining three other committed freshmen who are helping fill out the Zags’ bench. Carter is set to be the first Bullpup to transition to a Bulldog since Anton Watson in 2019.
Graham Ike, Jalen Warley Aiming to Join Gonzaga Alums in the NBA
Already one of the better-represented programs in the NBA, the Gonzaga Bulldogs have a chance to add at least two more players to that group next season.
Buzz continues to swirl around outgoing seniors Graham Ike and Jalen Warley, who each played huge roles in the Zags’ 31-4 campaign, and now look to join 13 former Bulldogs on active NBA rosters by breaking into the professional circuit themselves.
Ike has been the busier of the two, which should be of no surprise. The 6-9 big man received third-team All-American honors last season as a dominant scorer down low. Invited to the NBA G League Draft Combine in May, Ike first took part in the three-day event in Chicago before participating in team workouts with the Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, and Minnesota Timberwolves. Meanwhile, Warley competed in pre-draft sessions with the Golden State Warriors and Indiana Pacers following a season where he showcased his versatility on both ends for GU.
Explore our latest Seattle sports content by clicking on your favorite team(s) below!
