Gonzaga Just Landed a 20-Year-Old G League Star and the NCAA Has to Approve It

Mark Few didn't waste time restocking Gonzaga's frontcourt. The Bulldogs secured a commitment from Izan Almansa, a 20-year-old former G League Ignite standout who spent last year playing professionally with Real Madrid. Here's the catch: Almansa needs NCAA approval to actually suit up for the Zags, and it's not a guarantee.

Here's why this matters. Almansa declared for both the 2024 and 2025 NBA drafts and played five summer league games with the Philadelphia 76ers last year. The good news? He never signed an NBA contract, which opens the door for eligibility. College basketball has granted approval to players who went pro before, as long as they didn't ink a deal, and Almansa fits that bill. At 6'10, he's built to contribute immediately if the NCAA gives him the green light.

The G League Pipeline Is Getting Real

Almansa isn't breaking new ground alone. His former Ignite teammate Dink Pate is headed to Providence, and ex-Valley Suns player Nathan Mariano committed to Seton Hall. Both are part of a growing wave of G League players testing the college market.

But here's what makes Almansa's potential impact worth watching: he played 48 games with the Ignite in 2023-24, averaging 10.5 points and 7.2 rebounds while running alongside three former Zags in Jeremy Pargo, David Stockton, and Admon Gilder. That's real pro experience against legit competition, not just college-level talent.

What We Can Learn From G League Guys Already in College

Three former G League players signed with college programs ahead of last season, and their 2025-26 performances paint an interesting picture of how Almansa might translate.

Thierry Darlan, a 6'8 guard at Santa Clara, was the first to make the leap. He appeared in 35 games and started once, putting up 6.1 points and 3.6 rebounds in 17.9 minutes per game while shooting 33.9% from three. Before college, Darlan played 29 games with the G League Ignite in 2023-24, posting 4.7 points and 4.2 rebounds. He also spent 2024-25 with the Delaware Blue Coats, where he averaged 11 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists with a strong 37.7% mark from deep. At Santa Clara, Darlan became a key role player for coach Herb Sendek's team, using his length to provide rebounding and outside shooting help in what marked the Broncos' best season since 1995.

Abdullah Ahmed and London Johnson also made the transition, and tracking how they performed offers a real roadmap for what to expect when Almansa takes the floor for Gonzaga in 2026-27, assuming the NCAA stamps his eligibility.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.