Mario Saint-Supery’s decision to head back to Spain and sign with Valencia instead of returning to Spokane has left Gonzaga with a real opening at point guard, and the recent Ohio ruling could widen the search even further.
A judge in Ohio granted a preliminary injunction to 15 men’s college basketball players, making them eligible for a fifth season in 2026-27. That development has created a new lane for recently graduated seniors to chase another year in college hoops, and for Mark Few and the Bulldogs, it could mean a chance to swing big.
Gonzaga already has a few names tied to that lawsuit, including former Dayton guard Javon Bennett. But if more accomplished guards decide to pursue a fifth year, the Zags could be in position to land someone who can match Saint-Supery’s expected impact, or maybe even bring in an All-American level talent.
One obvious name is Donovan Dent. If Gonzaga wants the biggest possible splash, Dent is the one. He spent his first three seasons at New Mexico and put together a monster junior campaign in 2024-25, averaging 20.4 points, 6.4 assists, and 1.4 steals while winning Mountain West Player of the Year and landing on the Naismith Trophy Midseason Watch List.
Gonzaga was among the schools that chased him when he entered the transfer portal before the 2025-26 season, but Dent ended up at UCLA with Mick Cronin. There, he averaged 13.3 points, 7.6 assists, 1.7 steals, and only 1.8 turnovers in 34.4 minutes per game.
He also showed Gonzaga exactly what kind of problem he can be. Against the Bulldogs on Dec.
13, Dent had 12 points on 3-for-6 shooting, plus 10 assists, three blocks, and two steals. He followed that with 23 points, 12 assists, six rebounds, and four steals in UCLA’s upset of Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament.
The catch is that Dent has announced his intention to retire from playing and focus on getting into youth basketball. Even so, Gonzaga has reasons to make the call. A shot at running an elite offense and chasing a national title carries weight, and the program has the money from Saint-Supery’s departure and Domantas Sabonis’ recent gift to put together a strong offer.
Another name worth watching is Moe Odum, who spent three years in the WCC making life miserable for Gonzaga before finishing his senior season alongside Massamba Diop at Arizona State.
Odum’s path took him from Pacific to Pepperdine, where he had a huge junior year and averaged 13.1 points and 7.5 assists, good for fourth in the country. He was even better for Bobby Hurley and the Sun Devils, posting a career-best 16.4 points to go with 5.7 assists and 1.4 steals in 33.7 minutes per game.
He also knocked down 37.7% of his threes on 7.2 attempts per game and shot 82.9% at the line. At 6-foot-1, he’s a little undersized, but Gonzaga has seen enough of him over the years to know how dangerous he can be.
Then there’s Tyreese Calmese, who has bounced around to four different schools in four years, including two stops in Washington state.
Calmese started at Lamar in the Southland and won Conference Rookie of the Year after averaging 17.6 points while shooting 36.7% from three. He then played 16 games at Washington in 2023-24 before moving across the state to Washington State for the Cougars’ first WCC season.
At WSU, he averaged 15.2 points, 3.3 assists, and 1.6 steals in 30.2 minutes per game. One of his best nights came against Gonzaga in January, when he went for 20 points, eight assists, and four steals on 9-for-14 shooting. He also had 20-plus point games against Iowa and at Washington in non-conference play.
Calmese wrapped up his senior year at Wake Forest, where he averaged 10.3 points, 4.5 assists, and 1.3 steals while committing just 1.8 turnovers per game. He also shot 39.8% from three on 4.0 attempts per game for Steve Forbes and the Demon Deacons.
For Gonzaga, Calmese would bring defense on the perimeter, steady playmaking, and a jumper that looked sharp in the ACC.
In Other News...
Mark Few Just Added Another Blueblood Test To Gonzaga's Resume
Mark Few keeps finding ways to put Gonzaga on the same stage as college basketball royalty, and the latest one comes with Michigan State on a neutral floor in Palm Springs. The nonconference matchup, set for Dec. 19 at Acrisure Arena, pairs two programs that have spent years building national credibility and are both expected to sit near the top of the rankings this season.
It also adds another heavyweight to a schedule that already reflects how much these showcase games have become part of the sports calendar. The event will include both schools womens teams as well, and it gives Gonzaga another chance to measure itself against a blueblood that has been a frequent benchmark for where the Bulldogs stand nationally. [Read more 🡒]
Gonzagas Vegas Opener Just Became A Real Early Test
Gonzagas trip to Las Vegas now comes with a little more weight than a typical neutral-site tuneup. The Bulldogs open the Players Era Festival on Nov. 24 at T-Mobile Arena, where a 16-team field packed with major-conference programs will turn the week into something closer to a November proving ground than a showcase. Every game will be on ESPN networks, and the bracket setup means the first result will shape everything that follows.
For Gonzaga, the timing makes the opener especially interesting after the abrupt departure of Mario Saint-Supery helped push the Bulldogs down in some early Top 25 polls. They are still favored in the first game, but the path beyond it is anything but soft, with a chance to run into one of several heavyweight opponents as the tournament moves toward the championship game on Nov. 28 at Michelob Ultra Arena. Last years trip ended with a loss in the title game, so this one already feels like a chance to answer a few questions early. [Read more 🡒]