Two Gonzaga sophomores crack ESPN's top 50 for 2027 NBA Draft
Two Gonzaga sophomores crack ESPN's top 50 for 2027 NBA Draft
Gonzaga has not had a player picked in the NBA draft since Anton Watson in 2024Andy Patton|
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Gonzaga BulldogsThe 2026 NBA Draft is (barely) in the rearview mirror, and already, analysts are turning their attention to the 2027 class.
While 2026 was widely considered one of the deepest and star-heavy draft classes in recent memory, that same sentiment is not held for the 2027 group.
Of course, things change constantly in the world of basketball development. At this time last year, no one was thinking Keaton Wagler, Kingston Flemings, Ebuka Okorie, or Allen Graves would be in the NBA draft picture and they all went in the top 20 at Nos 5, 8, 17, and 19, respectively.
One way the 2027 draft could potentially differ from 2026, and 2025 for that matter, is how many Gonzaga Bulldogs are selected. After having nine players picked in a four-year span from 2020 to 2024, the Zags have been shut out of each of the last two drafts.
That may not be the case next June, with Jeremy Woo of ESPN releasing his way-too-early 2027 NBA draft big board, which included a pair of Gonzaga players inside the top 50.
Now that that's over. Moving on to the 2027 draft cycle with an early look at next year's class, headlined by Tyran Stokes. We have all been spoiled by the top-end talent of the last two classes. How the year plays out for this group will be fascinating.https://t.co/hEls9XzRz8
— Jeremy Woo (@JeremyWoo) June 25, 2026
Woo has Gonzaga sophomores Massamba Diop and Davis Fogle at No. 41 and 49, respectively, the lone Pac-12 players on the big board with the conference set to resume play in 2026-27.
Draftable Diop?
Diop took his talents from Arizona State to Gonzaga this offseason, after a heated transfer portal battle with St. John's. The 7'1 big man is an elite rim protector and high-level athlete who averaged 13.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks for the Sun Devils as a freshman last season.
Diop will be a perfect complement to Braden Huff in Mark Few's frontcourt, and his ability to block shots, set screens, and roll to the rim should earn him NBA attention all year long.
If the big man also displays a solid to above-average outside shot - he was 30.8% from three last year - as well as passing skills as an offensive hub, he will very likely vault into the NBA draft conversation.
Whether Diop foregoes his college eligibility, returns to Gonzaga for his junior year, or opts to re-enter the transfer portal will depend on many factors - but it's worth noting the better he does this season, the less likely it is he ends up in Spokane for 2027-28.
The Fogle factor
Fogle being on this list is not something many would have projected at the start of his freshman season, but the 6'7 wing continued to earn more playing time at Gonzaga due to his innate scoring ability, toughness, and willingness to learn and adapt as the year went on.
Now the Anacortes native is expected to step right into a featured role as Gonzaga's starting small forward, and it would not be a surprise at all to see him finish second on the team in scoring behind Huff.
Fogle needs to prove he has the frame and physicality to adjust to NBA size, but his improvement as a defender last season should help put him - and keep him - on the draft radar all season long.
Others?
Sophomores Mario Saint-Supery and Houston transfer Isiah Harwell are both more than capable of putting themselves in the NBA draft conversation. Harwell declared for the draft after his freshman year at Houston, but withdrew rather than accept an invite to the G League Elite Camp.
Still, as a former McDonald's All-American, a breakout sophomore season would likely put Harwell back in the NBA draft mix.
Meanwhile, Saint-Supery was a draft darling after playing extremely well in Spain as a teenager, and while his freshman season had plenty of ups and downs, he was playing like a future pro toward the end of the year.
It would not be a surprise to see Saint-Supery cropping up on mock drafts as the season goes on, which is never fun for Gonzaga fans, even if it is proof that he is having an excellent year.
Senior Braden Huff and 21-year-old big man Izan Almansa are certainly fringe draft candidates at this point as well, with Almansa already going through the draft process a few years ago while Huff is coming off major knee surgery and is entering his fifth year in college.
The 2027 NBA draft is a full year away, but with six realistic NBA draft candidates on GU's roster, expect the two-year streak of no picks to end in Spokane.
Published 13 hours ago
ANDY PATTONAndy Patton is a diehard fan and alumnus of Gonzaga, graduating in 2013. He’s been the host of the Locked On Zags podcast covering Gonzaga basketball since 2021, and one of two co-hosts on the Locked On College Basketball podcast since 2022. In addition to covering college basketball, Andy has dabbled in sports writing and podcasting across nearly every major sport dating back to 2017. He was a beat writer covering the Seattle Seahawks from 2017–2021 for USA TODAY, where he also spent one year each covering the USC Trojans and Oregon Ducks, and had a stint as the lead writer for College Sports Wire. Andy has also written about the NBA, NHL, and MLB for various news outlets through TEGNA, including KREM in Spokane, CBS8 in San Diego, and KING 5 in Seattle. After stints in Spokane and Seattle, Andy is back in Oregon near his hometown with his wife, daughter, and dog.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
