Once renowned as a factory for elite big men prospects like Domantas Sabonis, Zach Collins and Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga’s program has been defined by a new position in the last few years: the point guard.
Andrew Nembhard and Jalen Suggs propelled one of the most successful Gonzaga teams in program history to a Final Four in 2021, with former Zags Hunter Sallis and Ryan Nembhard both poised to be NBA players next year.
The newest Bulldog, 19-year-old Spaniard Mario Saint-Supery will look to be next in line. Here’s what he’ll be bringing to Spokane in 2025-26.
Background
Saint-Supery has been one of the more prominent international guard prospects for a handful of years. The question surrounding his NCAA interest was one of when, not if.
Last year, in FIBA, for Spain’s U18 squad, Saint-Supery averaged a team-high in points (21.4) and assists (6.3), the two marks ranking third and second in the competition, respectively. He carried his productivity into his play for BAXI Manresa in the ACB and BCL, where he averaged 7.7 points and 2.5 assists in just 15 minutes per game.
Offense
Similar to many of the Gonzaga guards before him, Saint-Supery is an efficient, high-volume pick-and-roll operator. Between FIBA and ACB/BCL play this past year, Saint-Supery ran 420 pick-and-rolls, resulting in 363 points, or 0.864 points per possession.
Saint-Supery, a righty, is excellent at getting to his strong hand in these actions. While not the biggest, strongest or most explosive at 6-foot-3 and roughly 190 pounds, he’s a fearless finisher who parlays off a variety of speeds, heights andmoves to trick defenders.
As a passer, his creativity shines. He’s great at getting past the first level of defense, forcing a team to collapse and finding the open man with style and efficiency. He’ll occasionally throw the ball away, but it’s not without an idea at the least.
As a shooter and scorer, he’s passable but not a superstar by any means. He has solid mechanics on his shot, shooting in the low 30s for most of his career. In FIBA U18 play, he shot 31.8% but made two 3-pointers per game, showing he isn’t afraid to pull with volume. His upside as an All-Conference guard with the Zags will come from his ability to add more scoring punch from beyond the arc.
Defense
Simply put, it’s not an area Saint-Supery’s going to add value on. The guard, as previously mentioned, isn’t just average in terms of height but is remarkably slim at 190 pounds. He has racked up steals and deflections with activity in the passing lanes but constantly gambling on passes is his only pathway to provide value on the defensive end.
However, with talented returners on the backline in Graham Ike and Braden Huff and the incoming talent on the wing, size and defensive talent will hardly be a primary concern on Gonzaga’s roster.
Team Fit
Like just about every team in college basketball, Gonzaga has had to replace many key contributors in its lineup this offseason. It’s lucky to see the return of Ike and Huff in the frontcourt, but with starting guards, Nembhard and Nolan Hickman out of eligibility, Saint-Supery has a pathway to be a big-time contributor off the bat.
It’s unclear if that opportunity will come in a starting role right away, as Gonzaga likes what it has in 6-foot junior Braeden Smith. However, with uncertainty surrounding the second backcourt spot, Saint-Supery could seize a starting role sooner rather than later.
