Gonzaga explores international guard connection as it rebuilds a reshaped roster

Gonzaga’s roster construction for 2026-27 is moving into a familiar phase for elite programs, using multiple recruiting pipelines at once. The Bulldogs have been linked, via recent reporting, to Serbia’s Savo Drezgic, an international guard who has also spent time with the Georgia Bulldogs. The interest comes as Gonzaga absorbs significant off-court roster attrition and looks to stabilize a backcourt that will need new answers after last season’s departures.

According to coverage from Yahoo Sports and Sports Illustrated, Gonzaga has explored Drezgic as part of a broader search that includes both the transfer portal and the international talent market. Drezgic is described as a 6-foot-2 guard from Serbia and 19 years old, with the reported connection to Georgia adding to the intrigue because it suggests the player may have already been exposed to a major-conference college environment.

Drezgic’s college experience, even if limited, is part of why Gonzaga’s interest is notable. A perimeter guard who has seen Division I coaching and game preparation can shorten the learning curve, especially for a program that has traditionally blended guard play with high-level shooting and decision-making. At the same time, the reporting frames Drezgic as a player whose return to college is a goal, not a finished certainty, and that distinction matters when assessing the likelihood and timing of any commitment.

The broader context is that Gonzaga has had to replace much more than a few role players. The Slipper Still Fits, a Gonzaga-focused publication, wrote that the program lost 11 players from last year’s roster. That included senior departures and additional turnover that forced the staff to look for both immediate production and longer-term fits. Even with key pieces returning, the overall math for depth and minutes in the backcourt has been complicated.

Indications that multiple high-profile programs are monitoring Drezgic underscore how crowded the competition can be for international guards with a college-ready profile. Sports Illustrated reported that Gonzaga has early interest, with Kentucky also listed among schools involved in the discussion. Other mentions in the same reporting set Gonzaga’s recruiting posture in a larger national race rather than a simple, one-team target scenario.

Gonzaga’s interest also lands during a structural transition. The Bulldogs are preparing to move into the revamped Pac-12, with conference realignment scheduled for July 1. That matters for roster planning because unfamiliar matchups can change what types of players coaches prioritize, and it can affect how much emphasis is placed on guard spacing, shot creation, and defensive versatility against new league opponents.

For now, this is best viewed as a preliminary recruiting link rather than a confirmed commitment. The most important next step will be whether Drezgic establishes a clear timeline and whether Gonzaga’s other recruiting targets settle quickly enough to prevent a backcourt crunch. Fans should watch for official roster updates, player statements, or commitments that clarify whether Drezgic becomes one of the missing pieces or whether Gonzaga pivots to other options to complete its 2026-27 rotation.