Coach Mark Few and the Gonzaga Bulldogs’ incoming transfer portal class could be gaining one of the most coveted true centers available, joining Houston Cougars freshman guard/wing Isiah Harwell.
First reported by Gonzaga Bulldogs on SI’s Andy Patton, Arizona State Sun Devils freshman center Massamba Diop plans to be in Spokane, Washington, this weekend, from April 18 through 19, for his official visit. Along with the Zags, Diop is highly considering coach Rick Pitino and the St. John’s Red Storm out of the Big East Conference. He reportedly will also go on an official visit to Queens, New York, next week, per The New York Times’ Adam Zagoria.
The 7-1, 230-pound standout from Rufisque, Senegal, jumped on the scene in Tempe, Arizona, this past season. Diop averaged 13.6 points per game on a shooting split of 56.9 field goal percentage/30.8 three-point percentage/71.5 free throw percentage. In 33 starts for previous coach Bobby Hurley, he grabbed 5.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game (ranked No. 2 in the Big 12 Conference, No. 23 in all of college basketball).
Diop has the NBA build and skillset to be massively successful at the next level. He’s looking for a new college destination to continue to develop. Gonzaga has been widely known for doing exactly that with big men over the course of the last 15 years or so. Just look at San Antonio Spurs’ Kelly Olynyk, Sacramento Kings’ Domantas Sabonis, Memphis Grizzlies’ Brandon Clarke, Los Angeles Lakers’ Drew Timme, Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chet Holmgren, and many others.
As for the Zags, the coaching staff needs an immediate replacement for Graham Ike’s minutes and production. Diop, being paired with redshirt junior forward Braden Huff in next season’s frontcourt, is quite possibly an even more dangerous duo due to his defensive and rim-protecting intensity, plus lob threat abilities. That’s something that will balance well alongside Huff’s low-post scoring prowess.
Gonzaga has lost seven-foot sophomore center Ismaila Diagne to the portal and desperately needs size. This looks to be a win-win situation for both parties at the start of the Pac-12 Conference era.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
