Mario Saint-Supéry, the guy known as "The Little Prince," is ditching Gonzaga after just one season and heading back to Spain. Valencia Basket Club dropped the news Saturday, confirming Saint-Supéry will play for them next season. This move, called "stunning" by ESPN's Myron Medcalf, absolutely blindsided the Bulldogs.
Gonzaga Blindsided By Saint-Supéry's Exit
You gotta feel for Gonzaga fans right now. College basketball insider Jeff Goodman spilled the beans, saying the Bulldogs were "shocked" by the decision. Why? Because Saint-Supéry was literally practicing with the team on Friday! This isn't just a tough break; it's a massive hit to Gonzaga's entire outlook for the upcoming 2026-27 season. The kid was a lock for the starting five, a role he'd earned by stepping into the opening lineup for the final eight games of the 2025-26 campaign.A Huge Hole In The Lineup
Saint-Supéry showed serious flashes of brilliance in his lone year. He averaged 8.6 points, dished out 3.8 assists, and snagged 2.8 rebounds per game over 35 appearances. He even shot a solid 40.3 percent from three-point range. Remember that West Coast Conference tournament title game against Santa Clara? He exploded for a career-high 21 points, draining 6-of-12 from deep in that 79-68 win. That's the kind of clutch performance the Zags are losing. And here's the kicker: with the transfer portal shut down, Medcalf pointed out that Gonzaga has "limited" options to find a replacement this late in the offseason. Yeah, they've got Jack Kayil, a combo guard from Germany, committed, and Isiah Harwell transferred in from Houston. But replacing a starter like Saint-Supéry at this stage? That's a huge ask. This is tough for the Bulldogs, plain and simple. They're going to have to figure out how to fill a massive hole in their starting lineup before the season kicks off. How do you recover from losing "The Little Prince" when you thought he was set to rule your court? That's the question hanging over Spokane right now.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.