2026-27 Gonzaga Player Profiles: Braden Huff
We are mere days away from the season and have now reached the final player in our preseason series, and we had to complete the series with only one man. This season, without a doubt, goes as he goes, just as we saw last season. I am beyond excited to see #34 back in a Zags uniform. Let's talk Braden Huff.
With Braden, he is one of the few players we aren't meeting for the first time. The senior has been a staple of this program for the past three seasons, and I am beyond excited to see him back on the court. Now, what do I mean "back"? Well, last season he started the year as one of the best in the nation, unstoppable through what is usually considered our toughest part of the schedule. Then a freak injury in practice cut his All-American campaign short. His stats through 18 games were a staggering 17.8 PPG at a 66% FG clip, so what about this year?
Well, first up, he lost his running mate in Graham Ike to the NBA, but in come two more bigs who should be another type of duo in action. He has Massamba Diop & Izan Almansa by his side, and this could elevate his game even more. Already seeing him in scrimmages, there is a visible difference in his strength, which will add to his game even more. Another new aspect to Huff this season may be the ability to open up scoring from the outside, as this could be the difference in getting drafted or not. As we know, the NBA wants everyone to be a threat from deep. Last year he improved it to 33%, but this year I think, ideally, he wants that around 36–38%.
Already, Huff is racking up watchlist spots & preseason honors, and I truly believe they are warranted. Insider info: Huff has been my wife's and my favorite player for the past couple of years, so having him back this season was huge. He is also now the team leader. While in the past it wasn't necessarily "his" team you could say, this year it is clearly his team, without a doubt. Let's take a look at the projections for the season...
As you can see, I am (rightfully so) very high on my guy. I think if he can consistently add in the 3-point shot, this could mean big games ahead. For Gonzaga to reach their goals this season, Huff will need to be that guy on and off the court as one of the few returners on this squad. I am excited we are getting this year of Huff and I am ready for Monday night, it cannot come fast enough! No more fake games, no more practice scrimmages, it is time to get going! Let's enjoy it as the Gonzaga Pac-12 era takes off!
Nathan De Sousa: https://www.barstoolbreakdown.com/post/2026-27-gonzaga-player-profiles-nathan-de-sousa
Chauncey Wiggins: https://www.barstoolbreakdown.com/post/2026-27-gonzaga-player-profiles-chauncey-wiggins
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