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Gonzaga's men's basketball program received positive news on Friday when the NCAA granted eligibility to Izan Almansa, a 6-foot-10 forward from Spain. The announcement came via the team's social media channels, which featured a video of Almansa hitting a long-range jumper during practice.
Almansa becomes the second Gonzaga player to gain clearance after a prolonged wait, joining 23-year-old French point guard Nathan de Sousa, who was cleared in late September after arriving in Spokane a month earlier.
At 21 years old, Almansa committed to Gonzaga on May 12 and will have three seasons of college eligibility remaining. His path to Spokane has been anything but conventional.
After coming to the United States for high school basketball, Almansa chose to play professionally for the NBA G League Ignite during the 2023-24 season, where he was teammates with former Zags Jeremy Pargo, David Stockton, and Admon Gilder. In 46 games with the Ignite, he averaged 10.5 points and 7.1 rebounds and was invited to NBA All-Star Weekend as a participant in the Rising Stars event.
Almansa then took his talents to Australia, playing for the Perth Wildcats in the NBL, and declared for the 2025 NBA draft after the season. When he went undrafted, he returned to Spain and played for Real Madrid in Liga Endesa before leaving the club to commit to Gonzaga in mid-May.
Fit at Gonzaga
Despite not being cleared until Friday, Almansa was allowed to practice with the team and even participated in Kraziness in the Kennel, where he posted seven points, seven rebounds, and one assist in 14 minutes. His performance drew praise from head coach Mark Few for his high basketball IQ and tenacity on the glass.
"He does a great job," Few said. "He's got an incredible feel for the game, kind of like [Killian] Tillie had. The ball just kind of falls to him, but we definitely need him on the glass. Need him to be a little bit more physical, a little more assertive. But he's somebody who does everything really, really well. Doesn't have a weakness."
Almansa is expected to serve as Gonzaga's third big man behind starters Massamba Diop and Braden Huff, with the ability to play either frontcourt position. His rebounding will provide a significant boost, and he projects as an efficient low-post scorer and capable defender on the block.
What's Next
With Almansa's clearance, 14 of Gonzaga's 15 players are eligible, with the lone exception being Florida State transfer forward Chauncey Wiggins. All 14 available players, including Almansa, are expected to suit up for the Zags on Saturday afternoon in Fayetteville against John Calipari and Arkansas. The game is scheduled to tip at 1:00 PM PT and will be broadcast on SECN+.