With the 2026-27 roster nearing completion, the focus from the Gonzaga Bulldogs has switched over to the international market.
6-10 forward/center Izan Almansa from Real Madrid has committed to the Zags, per La Xarxa’s Oscar Herreros. Another piece from Spain, with the help of assistant coach and Director of Basketball Operations Jorge Sanz, is added to a loaded frontcourt in Spokane, Washington, consisting of incoming sophomore center Massamba Diop and incoming redshirt senior forward Braden Huff.
Almansa’s basketball journey is a unique one, to say the least. The Murcia, Spain native has been all over the map, even spending time in the NBA Summer League with the Philadelphia 76ers after going through the draft process and ending up undrafted in 2025.
Real Madrid in Spain (2020-21)
G-League Ignite of the NBA G League (2023-24)
Perth Wildcats in Australia’s NBL (2024-25_
Back to Real Madrid (2025-26)
In the Liga ACB and EuroLeague this past season, Almansa averaged just 5.0 points and 2.3 rebounds in nine minutes played per game for Real Madrid.
Almansa was teammates with incoming sophomore guard Mario Saint-Supery on Spain’s national team during the 2024 FIBA EuroBasket qualifiers. Sanz was his coach during FIBA play on the U17 and U18 levels. He even played with former Zags like David Stockton, Jeremy Pargo, and Admon Gilder with the G League Ignite in Henderson, Nevada.
This move is far from being complete, as Almansa will have to wait to receive college eligibility. If all comes back good from the NCAA, this will be a luxury find to have behind Diop due to his overall experience, athleticism, and quick lateral movement for a big man. He would be ahead of incoming redshirt freshman forward Parker Jefferson and incoming freshman center Sam Funches in the depth chart.
Gonzaga’s 2026-27 roster right now looks like a top-ten team ready for the start of the Pac-12 Conference era, with 11 of the 15 roster spots potentially filled (next season’s class listed below):
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)
6-5 four-star combo guard Jack Kayil (2026 international recruiting class)
5-11 walk-on redshirt freshman guard Alonzo Metz
With Kayil still testing the NBA Draft waters, the international recruit from Alba Berlin in Germany has until June 13 to remove his name from the pool. The Zags look to be one, possibly two scholarship pieces away (plus some additional walk-ons) from being set with their 2026-27 roster.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
