Gonzaga Missing Starting PG as Saint‑Supéry Joins Valencia

Star Guard Signs with EuroLeague Club

Starting point guard Mario Saint‑Supéry officially signed with Valencia, a Spanish EuroLeague team, on Saturday, July 11. The move leaves the Bulldogs without an established playmaker for the 2026‑27 season. With the transfer portal closed, Gonzaga cannot secure an experienced replacement, creating an immediate vacancy in the backcourt. The departure is unexpected and arrives ahead of the team’s preseason preparations.

New Backcourt Challenges for Bulldogs

Gonzaga returns 6‑foot‑10 forward Braden Huff, who posted 17.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game last season. The program also replaced leading scorer Graham Ike with highly touted Arizona State transfer Massamba Diop. Without a seasoned point guard, the Bulldogs will rely on projected backups, a scenario that could shift the team’s offensive flow and defensive coordination. Scouts project this void may affect Gonzaga’s standing in the national conversation.

Other Key Offseason Moves

Freshman guard Nikola Kusturica, a potential No. 1 pick in the 2028 draft, signed a four‑year deal with UCLA. He averaged 8.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game, shooting 41 percent, and started 17 of 35 games as a true freshman. Kusturica honored his time at Gonzaga with an Instagram post: “Zag nation, thanks for everything.” The same night, European guard Jack Kayil was drafted in the second round by the Houston Rockets and later traded to the New York Knicks after having committed to Gonzaga. These departures represent a twin blow to the program’s recruiting momentum.

Looking to the Future

It remains unclear why Saint‑Supéry chose to return to Spain, though the move feels like a homecoming for the former Liga ACB guard who previously played for Málaga. Valencia, another Liga ACB club, now adds a proven playmaker to its roster. Gonzaga’s coaching staff will need to quickly evaluate its backcourt depth, possibly promoting underclassmen or pursuing late‑night transfers. The loss of two guards in a short span forces the program to recalibrate its expectations for next season’s campaign.