Mark Few and the Gonzaga Bulldogs struck gold on Tuesday, landing a massive commitment from 7’1 center Massamba Diop out of the transfer portal.
Diop starred at Arizona State last year as a freshman, averaging 13.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks while shooting 59.4% on twos and 71.5% from the free throw line.
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The 21-year-old will instantly bolster Gonzaga’s frontcourt on both sides of the ball, and he is a near-perfect pairing alongside senior Braden Huff, who comes back to Spokane after a knee injury ended his season prematurely in mid-January.
Diop is the second transfer portal addition by the Zags this offseason, alongside Houston guard Isiah Harwell, with the staff also bringing in a trio of freshmen in German guard Jack Kayil, 4-star wing Luca Foster, and 4-star center Sam Funches.
The addition of Diop gives Gonzaga a nearly complete rotation heading into 2026-27, although the team still has five roster spots to fill after losing 11 players from last year’s squad.
Below is a look at Gonzaga’s projected starting lineup and rotation, and what might be next for the team now that Diop is officially in the mix:
Projected starting lineup
Center Massamba Diop
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Diop immediately steps into the role vacated by Graham Ike last year, where he’ll serve as the program’s best defensive anchor since Chet Holmgren. At 7’1, Diop provides critical rim protection, rebounding, and soft touch offensively, making him an ideal fit alongside Braden Huff.
Forward Braden Huff
Huff stepped into a starting role this past season alongside Graham Ike and thrived at the forward spot, averaging a career-high 17.8 points and 5.6 rebounds before suffering a season-ending knee injury in mid-January. Now he’ll operate next to another force around the rim, with less pressure on him defensively thanks to Diop’s rim protection.
Forward Davis Fogle
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Fogle began his freshman season in a limited role, but emerged as a critical offensive weapon for coach Few and the staff down…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/gonzagas-lineup-looks-landing-7-171232273.html
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Publish date : 2026-04-29 17:12:00
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