The Gonzaga Bulldogs just got a whole lot bigger. One week after announcing his commitment, prized transfer center Massamba Diop has officially signed a financial aid agreement with the university, making his move to Spokane official.
Standing at an imposing 7-foot-1 and 230 pounds, Diop chose Gonzaga over St. John's after hitting the transfer portal with a "do not contact" tag—a clear sign of his high demand. He's now set to join what many analysts believe could be a top-10 roster for the 2026-27 season.
Diop brings exactly what the Zags need: athleticism, rim protection, and a proven ability to change the game around the basket. He'll slot into a frontcourt that returns key rotation players Braden Huff, Mario Saint-Supery, and Davis Fogle, all of whom helped Gonzaga win 31 games last season along with West Coast Conference regular-season and tournament championships.
With three years of eligibility remaining, Diop instantly becomes the top candidate to start alongside Huff, who was leading the nation in 2-point field goals before a season-ending knee injury in February. The pairing could be a nightmare for opposing defenses.
Diop's numbers from his freshman season at Arizona State speak for themselves: 13.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and an impressive 2.1 blocks per game—good for second in the Big 12 Conference. His 69 total blocks ranked third among all college freshmen nationally. He shot 56.9% from the field and connected on 30% of his three-point attempts, though he only took 0.8 per game. At the free-throw line, he was solid, hitting 71.5% on 4.4 attempts per game.
Before his standout season in Tempe, Diop spent two years with Spanish club Gran Canaria in the ACB league and EuroCup. The Senegal native averaged 16.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.6 "stocks" (steals plus blocks) over 14 games for Gran Canaria's second team during the 2024-25 season. His development path also included time with Real Madrid's development program, where he teamed up with Ismaila Diagne—a 7-foot center who spent the last two seasons at Gonzaga before transferring to San Francisco last week.
Diop is the first of Gonzaga's two incoming transfers to sign a binding agreement. Guard Isiah Harwell, a Houston transfer and former top-20 prospect, committed to the Zags roughly three weeks earlier but hasn't signed yet. Harwell is currently testing the NBA draft waters and participating at the G League Elite Camp in Chicago this week.
For Gonzaga fans, Diop's arrival signals that the Bulldogs' frontcourt—already a team strength—just added an elite-level difference-maker. Whether you're looking to rep the Zags with new gear or just excited to see how this roster shapes up, one thing is clear: Spokane's got a new big man, and he's ready to make an impact.