Gonzaga is still waiting for clarity on Chauncey Wiggins, and for now the answer is no. The Bulldogs forward tried a new legal path in hopes of securing eligibility through mid-December, but that route hit a wall when Texas Judge Ryan Luna denied a temporary restraining order for players attempting to jump in from other suits.
Wiggins was among that group, along with Arizona forward RJ Godfrey, Boise State guard Lamar Washington, and several others. Luna was clear about the ruling, saying, "Those players that you can identify that have already gone through this process on these merits, who have sought injunctive relief from another state court or granted it, I think we talked about Tennessee and Georgia," Luna said, per Theo Lawson of the Spokesman-Review. "Any of those players we can identify, I'm going to deny the TRO on those."
The setback leaves Wiggins as Gonzaga’s only ineligible player, even though his situation is nearly the same as Xaivian Lee and Javon Bennett, who are eligible right now.
There’s been plenty of legal back-and-forth already. Wiggins and the other plaintiffs in the Godfrey vs. NCAA case in Georgia received a temporary restraining order on August 5, which made Wiggins eligible until Sep. 9, when the Georgia Court of Appeals granted the NCAA’s stay request and knocked everyone back out of eligibility.
Bennett’s path followed a similar track in Ohio, except that case eventually turned in his favor when the Ohio Supreme Court reversed the lower court’s ruling that had found him eligible. That never happened in Georgia, and with oral arguments not set until Jan. 12, the players involved started looking for other ways to play.
For Gonzaga, the short-term reality is simple: Wiggins almost certainly won’t be on the floor Monday against Purdue. He could still chase another legal avenue this season, possibly in Washington if he and his lawyers can get before a judge quickly enough.
The timing matters because Wiggins would bring exactly the kind of production Gonzaga targeted. The 6-foot-10 forward spent three years at Clemson before last season at Florida State, where he averaged 13.3 points and 3.9 rebounds in 27.8 minutes per game while shooting 38.7% on 5.8 three-point attempts per game.
He hit 73 threes, which would have led Gonzaga last season, and that total ranked among the best in the ACC for players listed at 6'10 or taller.
Given Gonzaga’s struggles from deep, the fit is easy to see. The Bulldogs shot 21.4% against Arkansas and 33.3% against Lewis-Clark State in exhibition play, which helps explain why coach Few and the Zags were so interested in Wiggins in the first place.
So the story isn’t finished. But heading into Monday, Gonzaga is expected to take on Purdue without him. The game tips at 4:30 PM PT and will air on TNT and stream on HBO MAX.
In Other News...
Gonzaga's Frontcourt Picture Just Got More Interesting Before Purdue
Gonzagas exhibition win over Lewis-Clark State offered a useful early look at how the frontcourt might shake out as Purdue approaches, and two names stood out in particular. Massamba Diop and Parker Jefferson both found ways to make an impact in the 91-59 rout, giving Mark Few a little more to sort through as the rotation takes shape.
Diop, who had to navigate early foul trouble, looked more comfortable as the game went on and gave the Bulldogs a glimpse of his upside. Jefferson also made his case with a strong all-around showing, finishing as one of the more productive bigs on the floor and reinforcing why his role in the frontcourt picture could matter once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Gonzaga Women Suddenly Have Expectations This Program Has To Answer
Gonzaga womens basketball is carrying a little more offseason buzz than usual, and a big part of it starts with the coach. Lisa Fortier has landed on the preseason watchlist for the Kathy Delaney-Smith Award, a nod that puts her among the coaches being tracked as the best in the mid-major game and adds another layer of expectation around a program that already knows how to win.
The roster is drawing attention, too, with Lauren Whittaker earning preseason watchlist mention on the national awards circuit and junior guard Allie Turner coming off an All-West Coast Conference first-team season plus tournament honors. Turner and Whittaker are set to share the floor again, giving Gonzaga a foundation that looks capable of meeting the spotlight, even as the exact ceiling for this group still has to play out once the season starts. [Read more 🡒]
Massamba Diop Just Put Gonzaga Fans On Award Watch
Massamba Diops first season in the West already put him on the map, and now it has put him on an award watch list worth tracking. The Gonzaga center was named among the 20 players under consideration for the 2027 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, the annual honor from the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame that goes to the top centers in mens college basketball. The list spans several schools, which is a reminder that Diop is entering a crowded field even as his profile continues to rise.
For Gonzaga fans, the interest goes beyond the recognition itself. The watch list will be trimmed to finalists later on, and the winner will be chosen by a committee after fans get a say in the process. Diops place on the list gives the Bulldogs another reason to keep tabs on him, especially with his arrival carrying expectations that he can make an immediate impact in the middle. [Read more 🡒]