Gonzaga finally got a fresh look at one of its newest arrivals on Wednesday, and for a program that has had a bumpy run with international recruiting in 2026, Juwan Ekanga-Ehawa landing in Spokane is at least one encouraging development.
The Bulldogs’ social media account posted two photos and a short video of the 18-year-old wing from France, who committed to Gonzaga in June and is now on campus for preseason workouts. He hasn’t drawn the same buzz as some of the other newcomers, but there’s plenty to like about the profile: size, athleticism and real upside.
Ekanga-Ehawa, a 6-foot-6 wing, spent the summer representing France at the FIBA U20 EuroBasket in Slovenia in July. It was a useful proving ground before his first days in Spokane, and he helped France finish fourth with a 5-2 record. In that event, he averaged 3.0 points, 1.7 assists and 1.6 steals in 16 minutes per game.
That tournament also showed both sides of his game. The talent is obvious, but so is the rawness that likely keeps him outside the regular rotation in 2026-27.
He’s a force in the open floor, using his frame and elite athleticism to create problems in transition. He’s also a straight-line driver who likes going to his right hand and can finish through contact.
Before arriving at Gonzaga, Ekanga-Ehawa came through the JL Bourg system in France. This past season with the U21 roster, he put up 19.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.1 steals, a line that earned him Most Improved Player in the Espoirs ELITE league and a spot in the French Young Star game.
Even with that upside, the path to minutes in Spokane is crowded. Gonzaga recently added Chauncey Wiggins from Florida State, Javon Bennett from Dayton and Skylar Wicks from St. Francis, and those moves only made the wing and perimeter picture tighter.
Right now, the depth chart on the wing includes Wiggins and Wicks, along with returning sophomore Davis Fogle, Houston transfer Isiah Harwell and incoming 4-star freshman Luca Foster. Wiggins could still spend time at the four, and Fogle could slide to the one if Gonzaga misses on a top point guard target, but the roster remains loaded enough that Ekanga-Ehawa is not in line to jump the queue immediately.
Still, Gonzaga has built a strong reputation for developing international players, especially those who begin their college careers on crowded rosters. It would be too much to call Ekanga-Ehawa the next Rui Hachimura, but the possibility of him becoming a high-level contributor in Spokane is real. For now, his arrival gives the Bulldogs another reason to be intrigued, even if his first-year role is limited.
In Other News...
Gonzagas Loaded 2026-27 Slate Includes One Very Unusual December Date
Gonzagas 2026-27 non-conference slate is already shaping up as a busy one, with the program now revealing part of what life will look like as a member of the Pac-12. Among the known dates is a Dec. 2, 2026, meeting with Eastern Oregon University in Spokane, a matchup that stands out immediately because it is listed as an exhibition on Eastern Oregons schedule.
What makes it especially notable is the bookkeeping around it. Gonzaga has not yet made clear whether it will treat the date as an exhibition or count it as a non-conference game, leaving one small but meaningful wrinkle in an otherwise high-profile schedule that already includes several marquee opponents. For a program that tends to draw attention whenever the calendar starts taking shape, even a seemingly modest December date is worth watching. [Read more 🡒]