Saint Francis forward Skylar Wicks commits to Gonzaga, but NCAA eligibility is the key question

Saint Francis forward Skylar Wicks has committed to Gonzaga, a move that adds another scoring and two-way option to a Bulldogs roster that has been active on the recruiting trail. The pledge comes with a major uncertainty attached: Wicks’ ability to suit up next season hinges on whether the NCAA grants him a waiver tied to the sport’s new eligibility structure.

According to the report, Wicks was named to the All-Northeast Conference Third Team after a productive 2025-26 season with Saint Francis. The graduate from New Jersey averaged 17.8 points while shooting 41.0% from the field, including 36.3% from three-point range, and 72.5% from the free-throw line. He also contributed 6.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.4 steals across 28 starts.

On the court, the fit is driven by versatility. The reporting frames Wicks as a “hybrid wing” who can play above the rim and also space the floor. Gonzaga, under coach Mark Few, typically builds lineups around players who can defend multiple roles and create offense beyond set shooting, so the skill set described in the coverage aligns with that formula.

Wicks is not the only player whose immediate future is shaped by the shifting NCAA rules. The report notes that Division I’s Cabinet voted unanimously in favor of giving athletes five years to play five seasons, with the eligibility clock starting when an athlete enrolls or turns 19 (whichever comes first). For Wicks, that creates the need for a waiver to play in the upcoming season, and the timing of that decision could affect how the Bulldogs plan their early-season rotation.

The commitment also arrives as Gonzaga’s broader landscape is changing. Separate reporting points to Gonzaga officially joining the revamped Pac-12 Conference beginning in 2027-28, with conference basketball tournaments scheduled at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas for the men and women. While that is next year’s larger picture rather than this season’s immediate roster issue, it helps explain why Gonzaga is continuing to stock talent now, when program momentum and roster depth still determine who can withstand conference play and late-season pressure.

For Saint Francis, Wicks’ decision represents the departure of one of the program’s most productive two-way contributors from the 2025-26 box-score sheet. For Gonzaga, the next step is clear: watch how quickly NCAA eligibility is resolved for Wicks and whether the staff adjusts its plan for depth if the waiver does not come through. Even with his commitment in place, the reported eligibility uncertainty is the variable that will most directly shape how prominent Wicks can be from the start.