In a surprising decision, Alba Berlin combo guard Jack Kayil and his agents, Kevin Bradbury and Milan Nikolic, told DraftExpress’s Jonathan Givony that he’s staying in the 2026 NBA Draft. Technically, international players have until June 13 to withdraw, so his announcement coming much earlier than that makes one think that this is very much a done deal.
Currently, ESPN ranks the German Kayil as the No. 61 best available prospect. Many mock drafts have the 20-year-old going undrafted. Per Givony, he’s received enough positive feedback from general managers and scouts based on his body of work in Europe this fall/winter/spring.
With the newest Gonzaga Bulldogs commit, Real Madrid forward/center Izan Almansa, also going undrafted in 2025 and now apparently preparing to play college basketball in Spokane, Washington, who’s to say what the rules are anymore? Meaning, would a reunion with Kayil be possible if he, too, goes undrafted? It’s an extremely far stretch, but who knows?
The previous Gonzaga signee, Kayil, is averaging 12.2 points on a shooting split of 40 field goal percentage/34 three-point percentage/77 free throw percentage, 3.5 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game in Germany’s Basketball Bundesliga. Alba Berlin is preparing for their playoff run as the No. 2 seed, starting on Sunday, May 17.
Kayil was expected to make an immediate impact in coach Mark Few’s backcourt next season alongside incoming sophomore point guard Mario Saint-Supery. With this move, it opens up the door for Houston Cougars incoming sophomore guard Isiah Harwell to transfer in and hit the ground running for his shot at the starting two spot.
This brings Gonzaga’s 2026-27 roster to 10 of the 15 roster spots filled at this point in time:
6-4 sophomore point guard Mario Saint-Supery
6-6 sophomore guard/wing Isiah Harwell (Houston Cougars transfer)
6-7 sophomore wing Davis Fogle
6-10 redshirt senior forward Braden Huff
7-1 sophomore center Massamba Diop (Arizona State Sun Devils transfer)
6-9 redshirt freshman forward Parker Jefferson
*6-10 forward/center Izan Almansa
6-5 four-star wing Luca Foster (2026 high school recruiting class)
6-11 four-star center Sam Funches (2026 high school recruiting class)
5-11 walk-on redshirt freshman guard Alonzo Metz
*Needs NCAA to approve college eligibility
One more off-ball guard with three-point shooting as a strength and one backup ball-handler, either through the NCAA transfer portal or the overseas market, are still necessary for the completion of the upcoming roster. Plus, one or two more walk-on additions.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
