Thursday brought a rare bit of good news for Gonzaga, and it came with some real roster clarity.
Nathan de Sousa, the 23-year-old French guard who committed to the Bulldogs in late June, has reportedly been cleared by the NCAA for the 2026-27 season, according to the French outlet Ouest-France. After flying to Spokane in late August on a travel visa and waiting through the uncertainty, de Sousa summed up the outcome simply: "I took a risk, but it paid off."
That matters for Gonzaga because the Bulldogs have been juggling multiple eligibility questions at once. De Sousa is one of five players on the roster who have been stuck in NCAA limbo, joined by fellow international commit Izan Almansa and the three five-in-five seniors: Javon Bennett, Xaivian Lee, and Chauncey Wiggins.
The point guard situation has been especially tricky. Gonzaga has three on the roster, but Bennett is currently ineligible and Lee’s status is still being challenged by the NCAA. That leaves open the possibility that de Sousa could be the only eligible point guard at certain points this season.
Bennett initially won eligibility through a TRO in Ohio, but that order has since been stayed by the NCAA, which means he cannot play until the case is heard on appeal. Lee is eligible right now thanks to a TRO in California, though that ruling could also be stayed, which would make him ineligible as well.
For Gonzaga, de Sousa’s clearance at least gives the team a dependable option at the position. He can start, handle the offense, and let Davis Fogle and Isiah Harwell operate off the ball instead of being pushed into a role that may not fit them as cleanly.
De Sousa is listed at 6-foot-3 and comes from Saint-Quentin, France. He developed in the Cholet system and had a strong 2025-26 season in the LNB Elite league, putting up 10.9 points, 4.9 assists and 2.5 rebounds while shooting 36.1% from three. The season before that, he averaged 5.1 assists, a clear sign of the pass-first instincts Gonzaga wanted in a roster loaded with scoring options like Fogle, Braden Huff, Massamba Diop and, if eligible, Wiggins and Bennett.
If Lee is available, he remains the likely starter at point guard. If not, de Sousa would move into the backup role until Bennett is cleared, if that happens.
There’s still no timetable on when Gonzaga fans might get answers on Bennett, Wiggins or Almansa. Almansa’s case appears especially complicated because of his time in the G League, the NBL and with Real Madrid in Spain.
Fans will get their first look at de Sousa, along with newcomers Harwell, Diop, Luca Foster, Sam Funches and Juwan Ekanga-Ehawa, at Kraziness in the Kennel next Saturday, Oct. 3. The event starts at 2:00 PM PT.
In Other News...
Gonzaga Finally Has One Answer At Point Guard But Not Full Clarity
Gonzagas point guard picture got a little clearer this week with the addition of Nathan De Sousa, a 23-year-old from France who has been cleared by the NCAA to compete for the Bulldogs in the 2026-27 season. De Sousa has signed a financial aid agreement with the school, and Gonzaga officially added him to the roster, giving the program at least one established option at the position as the season approaches.
Still, the full answer at point guard remains unsettled. Gonzaga is waiting on eligibility rulings for transfers Xaivian Lee and Javon Bennett, both of whom are tied up in ongoing legal proceedings with the NCAA, so the Bulldogs have one piece in place but not the complete board yet. For a team that has leaned on guard play for so much of its success, the next decision or two could shape how the backcourt comes together. [Read more 🡒]
Gonzaga's Next Duke Showdown Just Got Even Bigger
A familiar nonconference heavyweight is back on Gonzagas schedule, and this one comes with a different kind of stage. The Bulldogs will meet Duke on Feb. 20 at 5 p.m. PT at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, with the game set for exclusive broadcast on Amazon Prime as part of Dukes multiyear streaming deal.
It will be the sixth time the programs have faced each other, adding another chapter to a series that has already carried plenty of name value and tournament history. For Gonzaga, it is another chance to measure itself against one of the sports standard-bearers, with the spotlight on Detroit and the access point now tucked behind a streaming paywall. [Read more 🡒]
Gonzagas Duke Showdown Just Got Even Bigger For Zags Fans
Gonzaga fans already had a loaded calendar, and now the February 20 meeting with Duke has become even more of a spotlight game. The matchup will be part of an exclusive Amazon Prime broadcast deal, putting one of the Bulldogs biggest nonconference tests in a prime national window and adding another layer of attention to a season that is packed with marquee dates.
The Blue Devils are only one piece of a schedule that keeps stacking up quality opponents for Gonzaga, with Oregon, Purdue, LSU, UCLA, Creighton, Michigan State and Kansas State all on the slate as well. Before the games start counting, the Bulldogs will also get an exhibition tune-up against Arkansas on October 25, and fans will have a chance to gather for a team event on October 3. [Read more 🡒]