Izan Almansa is getting a major stage this summer, and Gonzaga will have to wait a little longer to see him in Spokane.
The Bulldogs commit has been named to Spain’s Senior National Team for the second round of the 2027 FIBA World Cup European qualifiers, a group that begins play in late August. Spain went 5-1 in the first round and now faces Portugal in Zaragoza on Friday, August 28, before meeting Greece in Athens on Monday, August 31.
Almansa, who committed to Gonzaga in May but is still working through NCAA eligibility, is one of 15 players on the Spanish roster. He’s joined there by former Gonzaga guard Mario Saint-Supery, who left the program earlier this month for Valencia, along with former Michigan center Aday Mara and former Cincinnati big man Baba Miller, both of whom were selected in the 2026 NBA draft.
For Gonzaga, Almansa is expected to slot in as the third big this season behind returning senior Braden Huff and Arizona State transfer Massamba Diop. The 6-foot-10 forward grew up in Spain, played high school basketball with OTE in 2022-23, then moved on to the G League Ignite in 2023-24. In 46 games there, he averaged 10.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists.
From there, Almansa headed to Australia to play for the Perth Wildcats, where he put up 7.6 points and 5.3 rebounds in 29 games. He later declared for the 2025 NBA draft, went undrafted, and had been invited to the green room ahead of the second round.
That sent him back to Spain, where he spent this past season with Real Madrid. In 23 games, he worked as a reserve center and averaged 4.2 points and 1.9 rebounds in just under nine minutes per game.
At 21, Almansa still has multiple years of eligibility left, and his game has long drawn attention because of his rebounding, physicality, and passing. He also gave Spain a solid first-round showing, averaging 7.7 points and 5.0 rebounds in 19.5 minutes while shooting 82.4% (14-17) on two-pointers and 80% (12-15) from the free throw line.
The timing isn’t perfect for Gonzaga, especially since Almansa still hasn’t been cleared to practice by the NCAA. But the chance to suit up for Spain alongside Mara, Miller, and NBA veterans like Santi Aldama and Willy Hernangomez should only sharpen him before his first college season and his run with coach Few’s team in the new-look Pac-12 in 2026-27.