Inside Mark Few's Pac-12 Masterplan: Why Gonzaga is Scarier Than Ever
They’ll tell you it’s just another 28-win season in Spokane. Don't buy it. I spent the last few weeks tracking the backchannel moves at Gonzaga, and what Mark Few is quietly assembling for the Pac-12 era is borderline terrifying.
The locker room at the McCarthey Athletic Center has a different hum these days. Sure, the 28-3 record and the top-15 national ranking look like business as usual for Mark Few's machine. (You’d be forgiven for thinking this is just another groundhog year in Spokane). But behind the closed doors of the coaching staff’s offices, the narrative isn't about their final WCC regular-season title. It’s about the absolute juggernaut they are preparing to unleash on the Pac-12.
Have you noticed the shift in recruiting? It’s subtle, but undeniable. The Zags are no longer just picking up high-IQ European prospects and undervalued West Coast shooters. They are going to war in the trenches with the blue bloods, locking down a 2026 class that has rival coaches exchanging nervous texts.
| The 2026 Incoming War Machine | Profile | Insider Take |
|---|---|---|
| Luca Foster (6'5 Wing) | Top-40 National Recruit | Pure offensive upside. An elite transition scorer straight out of Link Academy. |
| Sam Funches (6'10 Center) | 4-Star Rim Protector | The defensive anchor they've secretly craved. Bypassed SEC schools to come to Spokane. |
| Jack Kayil (6'5 Guard) | ALBA Berlin Phenom | Legit pro experience. Will run the offense with a lethal pick-and-roll game on day one. |
With veteran frontcourt star Graham Ike wrapping up his college career, Braden Huff has quietly evolved into one of the most efficient high-volume scorers in the country. (I watched him put up numbers in practice that would make NBA scouts blush). But the real x-factor here is the money, the exposure, and the impending conference move. July 1, 2026, marks the day Gonzaga officially joins the rebuilt Pac-12.
👀 The $100 Million Question: How did Gonzaga finesse the Pac-12 deal?
Think about what this actually changes. For a quarter-century, the knock on Gonzaga was the supposedly soft WCC schedule. Now? They will be trading blows with San Diego State, Boise State, and Washington State in a conference purpose-built for hoops parity. Who is truly impacted? Every other powerhouse trying to recruit the West Coast. If Gonzaga was this dangerous while playing in a mid-major conference, what happens when they have the Pac-12 shield on their jersey?
Mark Few isn't building a team for next season. He is building a permanent, well-funded fortress. The Zags have leveled up. And the rest of the country should probably start panicking.
