Gonzaga finally got some welcome clarity at point guard this week.
Nathan De Sousa, the 23-year-old French guard who committed to the Zags in June, signed a financial aid agreement with the school on Thursday, two days after the NCAA cleared him to compete in 2026-27. Gonzaga announced the move Thursday morning, showing De Sousa in a No. 7 practice jersey at McCarthey Athletic Center in team photos and videos.
That gives Mark Few and his staff at least one established point guard on the roster as the season opener against Purdue gets closer. The backcourt had been in flux for months after Jack Kayil chose to remain in the NBA Draft and Mario Saint-Supery left for Valencia in mid-July.
According to Bebasket France, De Sousa got the NCAA’s “green light” on Tuesday after waiting about three months for a decision on whether he’d be able to play for Gonzaga this season. He is expected to have one season of eligibility with the program.
De Sousa arrives with real professional mileage. He spent four of the last five seasons with Cholet in France’s LNB Elite league, and last year he averaged 10.9 points, 4.9 assists and 2.5 rebounds while appearing in 36 games. He shot 43.4% from the field and made a big leap from deep, hitting 36.1% of his 3-pointers after going 18.8% the season before.
At Cholet, De Sousa started in the backcourt alongside Gerald Ayayi, the older brother of former Gonzaga guard Joel Ayayi.
He’s now one of two French natives on Gonzaga’s roster this fall, joining freshman wing Juwan Ekanga-Ehawa, who signed with the Zags on June 20. De Sousa also adds to a long line of French players who have passed through the program, a group that includes Ayayi, Killian Tillie, Ronny Turiaf and others.
Gonzaga could still have more point guard help on the way before Nov. 2, when it opens against Purdue. Florida transfer Xaivian Lee and Dayton transfer Javon Bennett both committed to GU last month, but each is still tied up in eligibility cases involving a possible fifth college season.
Lee is currently eligible because of a temporary restraining order granted to him and other players in California, though the NCAA is expected to appeal and try to overturn that ruling in the coming weeks.
Bennett, meanwhile, is ineligible for now. He had originally gained a fifth season through a preliminary injunction in Ohio, but that changed after the court granted the NCAA’s stay request and temporarily reversed the decision. A Court of Appeals in Ohio heard oral arguments earlier this week and is expected to issue a final ruling soon.
In Other News...
Gonzaga Finally Gets A Break At Point Guard When It Needed One
Nathan de Sousas path to Spokane had already included one hurdle after another, from securing a travel visa to waiting on the NCAA to sort out his status. Now the 23-year-old French guard has been cleared to play next season, giving Gonzaga a much-needed answer at a spot that has been under pressure as the roster has dealt with lingering eligibility issues elsewhere.
For a team that has spent the offseason juggling uncertainty, having a reliable point guard option matters as much as almost anything else. De Sousas arrival gives the Bulldogs some stability in the backcourt and a player they can count on as the season approaches, even as questions remain around the rest of the roster. [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 🡒]