Coach Mark Few has guided Gonzaga to a 31‑4 record in the 2025‑26 season, but the departure of key contributors has left the program needing depth and experience for the upcoming year.
Entering the 2026‑27 campaign, the Bulldogs are poised to replace the core that carried them through the previous season, with only four veterans returning from a squad that posted a 31‑4 record.
A Talented but Troubled Roster
The roster overhaul features 11 newcomers, among them five players currently navigating NCAA eligibility concerns, and a blend of domestic transfers, international recruits, and high‑school prospects.
Massamba Diop, a 7‑foot‑1 Arizona State transfer, is projected to anchor the paint with rim protection that could earn All‑Pac‑12 recognition or even NBA draft interest.
Xaivian Lee, a 6‑foot‑4 Florida transfer, is expected to assume the primary point‑guard role, pending NCAA clearance, while Chauncey Wiggins, a 6‑foot‑10 forward from Florida State, will likely start at the three and provide floor‑spacing and perimeter shooting.
Other additions include Izan Almansa, a 6‑foot‑10 Spanish big man whose professional experience could deepen rebounding, and Isiah Harwell, a 6‑foot‑6 Houston transfer who hopes to break out after recovering from a leg injury.
Javon Bennett, a Dayton transfer, remains ineligible at present but could serve as a backup point guard and outside shooter if cleared, while Luca Foster, the program’s top‑ranked freshman, may earn a larger role if depth becomes an issue.
Additional depth comes from Nathan de Sousa, a 6‑foot‑3 French point guard whose eligibility is uncertain, Sam Funches, a 7‑foot‑0 freshman center with shot‑blocking potential, and Carter Nilson, a walk‑on freshman who could become a crowd favorite despite limited playing time.
With five players in NCAA limbo — three high‑school graduates and two international recruits awaiting approval — the Bulldogs’ depth chart is both promising and precarious, but the coaching staff remains confident that the combined talent could make the 2026‑27 team one of the most competitive in college basketball.