Gonzaga’s coaching staff is still elite when it comes to international recruiting.
The Zags landed a surprise first commitment in the 2026 recruiting class from German combo guard Jack Kayil. Standing at
6-5 and weighing 185 pounds, the 19-year-old has quite the touch from deep to go along with his on-and-off-ball versatility, very comfortable in ball screen situations.
The big and skilled guard is one of the top prospects overseas in Germany with a ton of experience under his belt. With KK Mega Basket in Belgrade, Serbia, in the ABA League this past season, Kayil averaged 7.7 points on a shooting split of 39.8 percent from the field, 35.4 percent on three-pointers, and 88.2 percent from the free throw line, while chipping in 2.8 assists, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game. He can pull up in your face with a jumper or take you off the dribble with a step-back, just the complete package when it comes to shot-making.
In the FIBA U19 World Cup this summer, he was considered to be one of the best passers in the tournament. Kayil put together 11.1 points, 6.6 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game on Germany’s way to winning the silver medal.
He will play for Alba Berlin of the Basketball Bundesliga and the Champions League in Germany this fall. Kayil says he’s keeping his options open when it comes to the 2026 NBA Draft.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
