If Gonzaga gets Izan Almansa on the floor this season, the Bulldogs may have found the kind of reserve who can change the feel of a game without needing the offense built around him.
That was the takeaway from Saturday’s Blue vs. White scrimmage at Kraziness in the Kennel, where the 6-foot-10 Spanish forward looked every bit like a player who belongs in Mark Few’s plans.
Almansa, who committed to Gonzaga in May but is still waiting on NCAA clearance, stood out in 14 minutes for Team Blue with seven points, seven rebounds, one assist and three fouls drawn. He went 2-5 from the field and 3-4 at the line, and his four offensive rebounds were the most by anyone in the scrimmage.
Few didn’t hold back afterward, praising Almansa’s feel and versatility while drawing a comparison to one of Gonzaga’s best international players.
"He does a great job," Few said. "He's got an incredible feel for the game, kind of like [Killian] Tillie had.
The ball just kind of falls to him, but we definitely need him on the glass. Need him to be a little bit more physical, a little more assertive.
But he's somebody who does everything really, really well. Doesn't have a weakness."
That kind of endorsement fits what showed up on the court Saturday. Almansa was active around the rim, defended Braden Huff and Parker Jefferson well, found strong rebounding position and used his strength to create contact and get to the free throw line.
He’s long been viewed as Gonzaga’s third big, someone who can fit behind or alongside Braden Huff and Massamba Diop. And his résumé explains why.
Almansa spent 2023-24 in the G League with the Ignite, where he averaged 10.5 points and 7.1 rebounds across 46 games and earned an invite to NBA All-Star Weekend for the Rising Stars event. He then played a season in the NBL with the Perth Wildcats, declared for the 2025 NBA draft, went undrafted, and returned to Spain to play for Real Madrid in Liga Endesa before committing to Gonzaga this spring.
The rebounder stands out as his clearest calling card. His outside shot has never really been a finished product, but he finishes well at the rim and has been reliable at the free throw line. If he adapts to college officiating, he should be a factor on the defensive end, too.
The catch is obvious: eligibility.
The NCAA announced in May plans to crack down on international players with professional experience coming into college athletics, a decision that landed after many schools, Gonzaga included, had already gone after overseas talent. Almansa’s background in the G League, the NBL and Spain could put him at risk of being denied eligibility, which could push the issue toward legal action if Gonzaga wants him on the floor this season.
There was at least one encouraging sign last month when Gonzaga got good news on another international commit, Nathan de Sousa. But Almansa is still in limbo, and his appearance on Saturday likely points to a practice waiver while the NCAA sorts through his case.
That still doesn’t guarantee clearance. Last year, Tyon Grant-Foster had a practice waiver approved before his appeal was denied by the NCAA, forcing him to take legal action to play for the Zags.
For now, Gonzaga can only wait. And if Almansa does end up available, Few may have a major weapon coming off the bench.
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Among the games that stand out right away, Boise State feels like one that could carry extra weight for Gonzaga fans. The conference schedule also brings in Washington State, Colorado State, San Diego State and Utah State, giving the Bulldogs a different kind of map to follow in their new home and a fresh set of rivalries to sort out as the move gets closer. [Read more 🡒]
Davis Fogles Early NBA Draft Outlook Just Raised A Bigger Gonzaga Question
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The bigger question for Gonzaga is what happens if Fogle keeps tracking upward the way scouts think he can. He is being viewed as a player with a path to the first round if his game develops as expected, and he is not the only Zag drawing notice. Massamba Diop is also in the mix on draft boards, with some projections pushing him into the top 15, which only adds to the sense that Gonzagas future may already be getting a long look from the NBA. [Read more 🡒]
Gonzaga Women Enter The Pac-12 With A Chance To Take Over
The move into the Pac-12 gives Gonzaga womens basketball a rare mix of familiarity and ambition. The Bulldogs are bringing back 11 players from last season, along with more than 94% of their scoring, rebounding and minutes, which means a roster that already knew how to win together now gets a bigger stage to do it on.
Lauren Whittaker and Allie Turner remain the headliners after leading the team in scoring and drawing the bulk of last seasons accolades, and the early calendar will offer a first look at how that group handles the new challenge. Gonzaga opens with FanFest on Oct. 10, has an exhibition on Oct. 2 and starts the regular season Nov. 2, three dates that should quickly show whether this veteran core is ready to make noise right away. [Read more 🡒]