Takeaways from Kraziness in the Kennel, Gonzaga's Full Roster on Display

Xaivian Lee, Javon Bennett, Chauncey Wiggins, and Izan Almansa might not be eligible for the Gonzaga Bulldogs’ season opener against Purdue on Nov. 2, but they joined their 11 other teammates on the court at the McCarthey Athletic Center for Kraziness in the Kennel.

In front of a sold-out crowd – including four-star 2027 recruit Gene Roebuck – the Zags, with a full roster, put on a show to electrify their fans, whether it was Mark Few being honored for his recent induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Davis Fogle looking all the part of a superstar, or GU lighting it up from beyond the arc.

What were the takeaways from an exciting day in Spokane?

Davis Fogle Might Have Arrived

After his strong play down the stretch last season as a freshman, Fogle has been on breakout watch for much of the offseason. And the 6-7 guard only fueled the hype with his performance on Saturday.

Instead of a three-point competition, Gonzaga held its first dunk contest in two years, featuring Fogle, Lee, and freshman Juwan Ekanga. The first-year Frenchman kicked things off, smoothly throwing down a reverse. But Lee’s 360 one-hand jam and Fogle’s between-the-legs one-hander each earned 40s from the judges (former Zags Zach Norvell Jr., Dan Dickau, Mike Nilson, and Johnathan Williams), advancing them to the final round.

Lee missed his first two attempts in the championship round and was forced to throw down a quick, pedestrian slam to get on the board. But even if he pulled off his intended dunk, Lee likely wouldn’t have matched Fogle, who brought out one of his newest teammates, 7-1 Arizona State transfer Massamba Diop, for some assistance.

Are we even surprised?? 🙂‍↔️🙂‍↔️😮‍💨🪣 https://t.co/F6s3flSCkb— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) October 3, 2026

Fogle nearly cleared Diop after running in from the right wing, using a slight push-off to clear the seven-footer and flush the ball cleanly to the roar of the Kennel, earning a perfect 40 to seal his victory.

Then, Fogle showed his potential in game action. Setting a new Kraziness in the Kennel record, the sophomore scored 30 points in the 20-minute session, besting Braden Huff’s previous record of 19 and fueling Team White’s win over Team Blue 56-45. Fogle shot 11-of-15 from the field while registering four rebounds and three assists. Most notably, he drained six of his seven 3-point attempts, a key focus this offseason.

Working with assistant coach Stephen Gentry, Fogle has worked on raising his shooting pocket to create more fluidity in his jump shot, shooting anywhere from 500-600 practice shots a day over the summer. He shot an admirable 35% on 40 attempts last season, but as he takes on a larger role and is projected to play in the NBA, Fogle looks to shoot better at a higher volume this year.

He also showcased why his stretch was so encouraging as a freshman, displaying lateral quickness, rim pressure, and his great athleticism with a couple of ferocious dunks.

“He’s had a really, really nice offseason and really worked on some stuff,” Few said. “…I thought he did a nice job creating and sharing [the ball], making the extra one. Real, real good balance from getting paint touches but also [3-point shooting].”

As Fogle said after winning the Dunk Contest, “I’m ready for this moment, and I’m ready for the season.”

A Banner Day for 3-Point Shooting

Although no one wants to get hurt and the environment was an intra-squad scrimmage, not a heated conference rivalry, the earliest returns of GU’s three-point improvements couldn’t be more promising.

As mentioned, Fogle shot 85.7% on seven attempts from beyond the arc, but he was just a part of the Bulldogs’ 18-for-32 (56.2%) day from deep. Lee, Fogle’s teammate on Team White, knocked down three of his six trees from 3-point range. Even Huff made two of his three tries from distance, as he could factor into Graham Ike’s role from last season of shooting trailer 3s.

On the other side, newcomers Isiah Harwell (4-of-5 from 3) and Chauncey Wiggins (2-for-5 from 3) impressed on their 3-point looks. Marksmanship from distance is Wiggins’ calling card, while Harwell already seems to be more comfortable than he looked last year at Houston. The 6-6 sophomore’s 17 points were the second-most in the scrimmage.

👌 for Harwell https://t.co/xwHu3GsKlu— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) October 3, 2026

Few even pointed to Bennett, who sat out the festivities with shoulder soreness and shot 36.5% from deep over the last two seasons at Dayton, as someone else who’s been drilling 3s during offseason activities.

Over the last two seasons, Gonzaga has shot 35% and 33% from 3-point range collectively, each the worst two clips of the Mark Few era. With the help of several new faces, the Zags look to take a step forward in that department, which could separate them in March.

Braden Huff Looks, Feels Good in Return from Knee Injury

An All-American candidate in his final year, Huff missed GU’s final 17 games last year after suffering a left knee injury. But the 6-10 redshirt senior is healthy heading into the 2026-27 season, fully recovered and ready to be an impact player for the Bulldogs again.

“Leg feels good,” Huff said in a radio interview before the scrimmage on 96.1 FM. The Glen Ellyn, IL., native added that he dunked during yesterday’s practice, a rarity for him even without injury concerns.

In 17 minutes of action, Huff tallied 11 points on 4-of-11 shooting and finished tied for the game-high in rebounds with seven. His inside shot seemed rusty, as it was one of the most automatic in the country last season, but Huff moved well, showing encouraging signs as the team’s four.

Flashes By Frontcourt Additions

On the first possession of the scrimmage, Diop rejected a shot by Parker Jefferson into the stands, which is the biggest attribute he brings to Gonzaga’s frontcourt. During his freshman year with the Sun Devils, Diop averaged 2.1 blocks per game, the second-highest mark in the Big 12.

He added six points, including making his lone 3-point attempt, and four boards. Diop also committed four fouls and wasn’t great in transition on Saturday, according to Few, but he brings a different element as a rim protector.

Almansa also brought an enforcing element down low, standing as the other Zag to collect seven rebounds, four of them being on the offensive glass. He chipped in seven points and, if he plays with the same confidence as he did in Spain, could be one of the best bench bigs in the country behind Huff and Diop.

“He’s got an incredible feel for the game,” Few said about Almansa. “…He’s kind of somebody that does everything really well, maybe doesn’t have a weakness.”

More Experienced Point Guard Play

With Bennett out, Lee and Nathan De Sousa got the chance to duke it out as dueling point guards. The former filled the stat sheet with nine points, four assists, and four boards while De Sousa totaled seven points and five dimes.

By the end of last season, freshman and now-departed Mario Saint-Supéry basically ran the offense by himself. This time around, the Zags hope to have minimal dropoff between Lee and De Sousa, who have played four collegiate seasons and six years professionally, respectively. And as a fifth-year player, Bennett will factor into that group as well when he is healthy and eligible.

There was confidence and a clear competitive spirit between the two during the scrimmage, which should only breed better production from whoever plays point for GU at a given time.

Few, Gonzaga Await End of Eligibility Saga

Despite the excitement of Saturday’s events, a great underlying point remains: Lee, Wiggins, Almansa, and Bennett are not officially eligible. This week, the Court of Appeals reversed the preliminary injunction in the Ohio case that includes Bennett, making him ineligible even without the NCAA’s stay request. Lee is currently eligible after receiving a temporary restraining order from the NCAA as part of a California case, but their hearing was delayed this week as he and more than 70 other athletes seek an injunction.

Wiggins remains ineligible since the NCAA was granted its stay motion in the Georgia case he’s part of, while Almansa’s situation is more of a waiting game as an international commit with notable professional experience.

The four have been acclimating to the team, but no one knows when they can officially put this saga behind them. All Few and the Zags can hope for is a quick resolution.

“The best expectation would be that the NCAA just lets these guys play. It’s really unfortunate that they’re taking this stance,” Few said. “The classes before these guys all got five, six, seven years…So I’m not sure why we’re sticking to just targeting this one specific group.”