It’s been slow on the transfer portal front and Gonzaga has been known to look outside the United States for recruits, especially Spain. Current Zag center Ismaila Diagne played for Real Madrid’s U-18 team prior coming to the Pacific Northwest.
The 6’3, 172-pound Mario Saint-Supery is only 19 years old and is one of the top European prospects possibly going the collegiate route. The foreign target can play the point, shooting guard, or small forward.
As a member of BAXI Manresa in the Liga ACB, he’s averaging 7.3 points on 41.9 field goal percentage/29.7 three-point percentage/82.2 free throw percentage, 2.7 assists and 1.9 rebounds per game in the top professional basketball division of the Spanish basketball league. He’s going up against former college stars and NBA players so he’s already battle-tested despite his young age.
Saint-Supery contours his body well when attacking the rim and is crafty for such a juvenile player. When leading the break, he keeps his head high and can visualize where his teammates are going to end up on the floor. The teenage prodigy has gradually gotten better as a playmaker and more physical as his season has gone along.
At the 2024 FIBA EuroBasket U-18, Saint-Supery put together a staggering stat sheet of 21.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game for Spain.
If Braden Huff and Graham Ike do indeed come back for another season, Gonzaga coach Mark Few is in need of support in the backcourt. The trio of transfers in Braeden Smith, Jalen Warley, and Steele Venters have yet to play for the Zags so adding some more depth and bringing in more competition at the guard spots can help everyone on the roster.
A season in Spokane while focusing on improving Saint-Supery’s ball security and being consistent as a outside shooting threat can help his overall stock for the 2026 NBA Draft.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on Twitter @a_cravalho
