Gonzaga got a useful bit of good news Wednesday, and in this strange stretch of shifting eligibility rulings, that counts for a lot.
Point guard Javon Bennett is eligible again after the Ohio Supreme Court stayed the Ohio Court of Appeals’ decision, which restores eligibility for the players involved in that lawsuit. Bennett was part of that group, so he’s back in the clear for now.
The court also ordered briefing on the effect of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s executive order, which made all class of 2022 seniors eligible to compete in Ohio. Bennett played for Dayton in Ohio last year, but that order only applies to student-athletes currently competing in the state of Ohio. Even so, the executive order is part of why the Ohio Supreme Court is pausing the appeals ruling and restoring eligibility in the Borovicanin five-for-five case, with possible ripple effects across similar NCAA cases.
For Bennett, this is just the latest turn in a wild few months. The 5-foot-10 guard was first ruled eligible on July 9 after an injunction in Ohio, then lost that status on Aug. 17 when the Ohio Court of Appeals stayed that injunction. Now he’s cleared again, at least for the moment, and is expected to play for Gonzaga in the Oct. 24 road exhibition at Arkansas, unless something changes before then.
Bennett spent one year at Merrimack and the last three at Dayton. His senior season was his best one yet: 15.8 points and 2.9 assists per game, 34.7% shooting on 7.0 three-point attempts per game, and First Team All A-10 honors.
Mark Few has already made it clear what Bennett brings. After Bennett sat out Kraziness in the Kennel because of a shoulder injury, Few called him the best three-point shooter on the roster. That kind of shot-making is exactly why Gonzaga wanted him, and why he should give the backcourt some much-needed scoring and spacing.
With Bennett back in the mix, 13 of Gonzaga’s 15 players are currently eligible. The two exceptions are international big man Izan Almansa and Florida State fifth-year senior transfer Chauncey Wiggins.
Wiggins remains sidelined after his lawsuit in Georgia was stayed by the state court of appeals, leaving him ineligible while that case continues. The situation could still shift, just as Bennett’s did in Ohio, but for now the 6-10 stretch forward cannot take part in Gonzaga’s exhibition or regular-season games.
Almansa is still waiting on NCAA clearance after playing professionally with the G League Ignite, the Perth Wildcats in the NBL, and in Europe with Real Madrid. Several other Europeans in college basketball have been granted eligibility this month, including St. John’s point guard Quinn Ellis on Tuesday, so a ruling for Almansa may be coming soon.
That leaves Gonzaga in the same uneasy holding pattern as a lot of programs around the country. Bennett, Wiggins and Florida transfer Xaivian Lee - who is eligible through a TRO in California - could all see their status change again in the coming weeks and even into the 2026-27 season.
For now, though, Bennett is back, and Gonzaga will have him available when it faces Arkansas on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 1:00 PM PT. The exhibition will be broadcast on SECN+.
In Other News...
Gonzagas New Pac-12 Reality Will Feel Different For Zags Fans
Gonzagas move into the reformed Pac-12 is going to change the feel of the season for fans in a way that goes beyond the standings. After nearly 50 years in the WCC, the Bulldogs are entering a new setup that brings a different kind of weekly rhythm, one built around broader visibility and a more prominent national footprint. The full 2026-27 basketball schedule is already mapped out, with game dates, tip-off times and TV channels giving supporters a clearer picture of what this next chapter will look like.
The broadcast side is a big part of the shift, with national coverage spread across CBS, CBS Sports Network, The CW and USA Network. And the non-conference portion still gives the schedule plenty of juice, with matchups that will test Gonzaga early and often before league play really settles in. For a fan base used to a familiar conference landscape, this new Pac-12 reality is going to feel different in more ways than one. [Read more 🡒]
Gonzaga's Backcourt Just Got A Huge Boost With One Big Catch
Javon Bennetts path to Gonzaga took another turn this week, and it gives the Bulldogs a little more time to sort out a backcourt that already looked interesting heading into the fall. The Dayton transfer has temporarily regained eligibility for a fifth college season after the Ohio Supreme Court stayed an earlier ruling from the Ohio Court of Appeals, a development tied to the ongoing Borovicanin vs. NCAA lawsuit over 5-in-5 eligibility.
For Gonzaga, the timing matters because the exhibition opener arrives Oct. 24, and Bennett now factors into the mix as the Bulldogs continue building out their rotation. The situation still carries some uncertainty, though, because the legal fight at the center of it all is not finished and Bennetts status remains part of a broader eligibility battle that could keep shifting as the season gets closer. [Read more 🡒]
Braden Huff Just Got The Snub Gonzaga Fans Will Notice
Braden Huff is back for Gonzaga in 2026-27 after an injury-shortened season that still showed just how dangerous he can be around the rim. Even with the stop-and-start nature of that year, Huff averaged 17.8 points while shooting 66.2% from the field, production that helped keep him squarely in the national conversation as the Bulldogs look ahead to another demanding schedule.
CBS Sports did not put Huff on its preseason All-America list, a notable omission for a player who has already proven he can carry a major scoring load. The list leaned heavily toward power-conference programs, leaving Gonzaga with another familiar motivation as it lines up several top-tier opponents and gives Huff a chance to make the case the preseason voters missed. [Read more 🡒]