Gonzaga may have a real chance to attack one of college basketball’s biggest headaches before it becomes a problem.
While most programs are stuck piecing together new rosters every offseason, Mark Few’s 2027 recruiting class is shaping up as a chance to build something sturdier. The prize already in hand is Dooney Johnson, and the Bulldogs are still in the hunt for No. 18 prospect Jalen Davis and California wing Gene Roebuck.
Johnson’s stock keeps climbing. The 6-foot-7 guard from Wisconsin is already committed to Gonzaga and has moved up to No. 11 nationally in the latest Rivals rankings, according to The Slipper Still Fits. He also earned first-team Nike EYBL honors, another sign that he’s arriving in Spokane with serious pedigree.
His game fits the modern college game in all the right ways. Johnson’s size lets him spot passing windows smaller guards might never see, and it gives Gonzaga more defensive options.
He can handle the ball, make plays, and guard multiple spots. He’s not just a shooter either, which only makes him more valuable.
That kind of player can also help Gonzaga sell the rest of the class. Elite recruits pay close attention to who else might be coming with them, not just the roster already in place. A gifted creator can be more appealing when another talented creator is joining the mix.
That’s where Davis and Roebuck come in.
Davis, a 6-foot-3 guard from Washington, has the strength to create offense for himself and for others. Roebuck brings a different kind of value at 6-foot-5, especially after hitting 42% of his 3-pointers on the Adidas 3SSB circuit. His shooting would stretch defenses around Johnson and Davis, and his rebounding would add more length on the perimeter.
If Gonzaga lands all three, the group would bring a little bit of everything: shot creation, shooting, size and defensive versatility. That’s the kind of core that can grow together instead of being rebuilt every spring through the transfer portal.
The Bulldogs still have work ahead. Davis and Roebuck are both uncommitted, and bigger programs will stay in the mix. But the outline is there, and it’s a promising one.
That matters even more with Gonzaga’s current roster carrying multiple players dealing with eligibility questions. A stronger high school pipeline would give Few another way to stabilize the program, cutting down on how much the Bulldogs have to depend on late transfer decisions and unpredictable rulings.
Few isn’t about to abandon the portal. He’ll keep using it when he needs to. But a young backcourt with the talent to stay together for several seasons could give Gonzaga something the modern game rarely allows: continuity.