Mark Few has built a habit of producing All-Americans at Gonzaga, and Braden Huff looks like the next name in line. The Bulldogs have had 11 consensus All-Americans under Few, with Jalen Suggs, Corey Kispert, Chet Holmgren and Drew Timme all earning that kind of recognition in the last six years alone.
That’s part of why Huff’s preseason snub stands out. After last season, when Graham Ike finished as a Third Team All-American after taking over down the stretch following Huff’s season-ending injury, the expectation was that Huff would step right back into the spotlight once healthy. Instead, Blue Ribbon Yearbook’s preseason All-American teams came and went without him.
The annual preview selected 20 players across first, second, third and fourth teams, with five spots on each. Even with that expanded field, Huff was left out. The big men who did make the cut were Thomas Haugh of Florida, Mo Krivas of Arizona, Flory Bidunga of Louisville, David Mirkovic of Illinois, Thijs de Ridder of Virginia, Jojo Tugler of Houston, and Matas Vokietaitis of Texas.
It’s a hard omission to justify based on what Huff already showed last season. The 6-foot-10 forward averaged 17.8 points in only 25.4 minutes per game, and he did it with elite efficiency, shooting 69.7% on two-pointers and 33.3% from deep.
He also delivered in the biggest games. Huff scored 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds on 9-for-11 shooting against Alabama, put up 20 points and three assists on 9-for-11 shooting against Kentucky, went for 21 points on 7-for-12 shooting against UCLA, and added 20 points and six rebounds on 9-for-16 shooting against Oregon.
Across 18 games last season, he scored in double figures 17 times. He topped 20 points eight times and posted a career-high 37 points on 16-for-18 shooting against Campbell.
Now healthy again, Huff is positioned to resume his role as Gonzaga’s starting power forward and primary offensive option. The pieces around him are strong, too, with Davis Fogle providing slashing, Xaivian Lee offering playmaking, and Chauncey Wiggins bringing floor spacing, assuming the latter two are eligible.
Arizona State transfer Massamba Diop adds another important layer. He gives Gonzaga a major rim protector and finisher, which should ease the defensive burden on Huff and leave opponents with fewer chances to load up on him. Historically, that’s been bad news for the defense.
Few said last month that Huff is moving around great, and if he enters his senior season fully healthy, the production should follow. A near-20-point average on elite efficiency is right there for him, and if Gonzaga stays in the top 10, the All-American attention in 2027 should come with it.