Had to take some time to cool off, gather everything together. Point guard Mario Saint-Supery announced on his Instagram that he’s leaving the Gonzaga Bulldogs program to return to his home country of Spain. The 20-year-old will now play for Valencia Basket in the Liga ACB for a reported north of $15 million on a four-year deal, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Norelander, making him one of the highest-paid players in all of Europe.
Making this decision at this point in the offseason shows a lack of loyalty and character from a more than talented floor leader who was expected to have a national breakout season with the Zags in his sophomore campaign. At least when forward/center Filip Petrusev left Gonzaga after the 2019-20 season to play for the ABA League’s Mega Basket, he was present in his native country of Serbia, and did it right before the official offseason workouts began in the summer. Saint-Supery coming back to Spokane, Washington, for Domantas Sabonis’ ceremony after playing with Spain in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers is really an inconsiderate, deliberate action.
He blindsided coach Mark Few. It puts the staff in a hole, scrambling to find more help at the lead guard spot with a decimated NCAA transfer portal pool. Not to mention hurting his former teammates, especially regarding sophomore wing Davis Fogle and sophomore center Massamba Diop’s NBA Draft stock. Saint-Supery was practicing with all the Zags just 24 hours before and gave the out-of-the-blue news late last night.
This looks to be the future now when dealing with international prospects, bidding wars with EuroLeague teams who have more funds than the Pacific Northwest institution. Name, Image, and Likeness or NIL in the NCAA has hurt the integrity of college basketball.
Gonzaga’s updated roster count is now 13 of the 15 potential spots filled. New starting lineup looks like:
Making this decision at this point in the offseason shows a lack of loyalty and character from a more than talented floor leader who was expected to have a national breakout season with the Zags in his sophomore campaign. At least when forward/center Filip Petrusev left Gonzaga after the 2019-20 season to play for the ABA League’s Mega Basket, he was present in his native country of Serbia, and did it right before the official offseason workouts began in the summer. Saint-Supery coming back to Spokane, Washington, for Domantas Sabonis’ ceremony after playing with Spain in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers is really an inconsiderate, deliberate action.
He blindsided coach Mark Few. It puts the staff in a hole, scrambling to find more help at the lead guard spot with a decimated NCAA transfer portal pool. Not to mention hurting his former teammates, especially regarding sophomore wing Davis Fogle and sophomore center Massamba Diop’s NBA Draft stock. Saint-Supery was practicing with all the Zags just 24 hours before and gave the out-of-the-blue news late last night.
This looks to be the future now when dealing with international prospects, bidding wars with EuroLeague teams who have more funds than the Pacific Northwest institution. Name, Image, and Likeness or NIL in the NCAA has hurt the integrity of college basketball.
Gonzaga’s updated roster count is now 13 of the 15 potential spots filled. New starting lineup looks like:
3 months ago
