Four Gonzaga Bulldogs Enter NCAA Transfer Portal Ahead of April 7 Deadline SPOKANE, Wash. — Four Gonzaga Bulldogs are set to enter the NCAA transfer portal when it officially opens on April 7, marking a significant shift in the program’s roster as the team prepares for the 2025-26 season. The departures include senior guard Steele Venters, junior guard Braeden Smith, junior forward Emmanuel Innocenti, and freshman guard Cade Orness, all of whom have announced their intent to seek new opportunities. The moves come as Gonzaga navigates roster adjustments amid a mix of graduation, transfers, and the addition of incoming freshmen. Steele Venters, a senior guard who transferred from Eastern Washington in 2023, is among the most high-profile departures. Venters appeared in 27 games this season, averaging 5.0 points per game while shooting 36.7% from beyond the arc. However, his season was marred by recurring injuries, including a torn ACL in the 2023-24 season and a torn Achilles in the 2024-25 season. After a partial return this year, Venters struggled to secure consistent playing time, logging just 15 minutes per game and sitting out the postseason. Despite his injury history, Venters is expected to pursue an additional year of eligibility through an NCAA medical waiver, positioning him as a potential target for teams seeking a veteran perimeter shooter. Braeden Smith, a junior guard who transferred from Colgate in 2022, is also entering the portal. Smith, a former Patriot League Player of the Year, appeared in 35 games this season but saw his role diminish as the year progressed. He averaged 5.1 points, 3.6 assists, and 17.1 minutes per game, all career lows, while shooting 46.7% from the field.#steele_venters #braeden_smith #emmanuel_innocenti #cade_orness #gonzaga_bulldogs
Gonzaga Point Guard Braeden Smith to Enter Transfer Portal Amid Team Roster Changes Four Gonzaga players are expected to enter the NCAA transfer portal by the time it officially opens following the team’s national championship game, with point guard Braeden Smith joining teammates Emmanuel Innocenti, Cade Orness, and Steele Venters in the process. Smith’s agency, ADS Sports, confirmed his decision to On3.com’s Joe Tipton on Monday, making him the third Gonzaga player to publicly announce his intent to transfer. The portal will officially open at 9 p.m. PT, but over 1,000 players nationwide have already expressed interest in transferring, with many likely to be in the portal by Tuesday morning. Smith, a redshirt junior, is set to seek his third college program in five years after spending two seasons at Colgate and two at Gonzaga. At Gonzaga, he redshirted during the 2024-25 season before appearing in all 35 games of the 2025-26 campaign under head coach Mark Few. Despite his contributions, Smith’s role on the team fluctuated throughout the season. He began as the starting point guard but ceded the position to freshman Mario Saint-Supery after the Nov. 17 game against Southern Utah. Saint-Supery went on to start nine consecutive games before the Zags reinserted Smith into the starting lineup during the West Coast Conference season, a period when Saint-Supery was battling severe flu symptoms. Smith held the starting role for 14 games before returning the position to Saint-Supery on Feb. 18 at San Francisco. Saint-Supery, a freshman from Malaga, Spain, took over the starting role for the final four regular-season games and all four games in the West Coast Conference Tournament and NCAA Tournament. If Smith returns to Gonzaga next season, Saint-Supery is expected to assume full-time starting duties.#gonzaga #braeden_smith #emmanuel_innocenti #cade_orness #steele_venters
