SPOKANE, Wash. — The loudest moment of Gonzaga’s annual Kraziness in the Kennel showcase may not have come from a spotlight, a dunk contest or the familiar surge of noise inside McCarthey Athletic Center.
It came from Davis Fogle’s right hand.
After a quiet opening stretch in Saturday’s intrasquad scrimmage, the sophomore wing caught fire. Fogle finished with 30 points in the White team’s 56-45 win, setting the event’s individual scoring record while shooting 11 of 15 from the field and 6 of 7 from 3-point range. He added another signature moment earlier in the day by clearing 7-foot-1 center Massamba Diop to win the dunk contest.
Fogle said he did not know the scoring record was within reach.
“I had no idea what the record was — just going out there hooping,” Fogle said. “I was open, they got me open, just made shots.”
That simplicity may be the most encouraging part for Gonzaga. The 30-point outburst was a preseason performance, not a November result, and it should be treated accordingly. But it also looked like the natural extension of a summer spent rebuilding the mechanics of Fogle’s jump shot and expanding the responsibility he carries as one of the program’s returning pieces.
Fogle said he and assistant coach Stephen Gentry went back to the beginning after last season, concentrating on form shooting, midrange work and eliminating unnecessary movement from his release.
The goal was not to remake a player who could not shoot. It was to make a capable shot smoother, quicker and more repeatable.
“We just started from zero right when the season ended,” Fogle said. “Form shots, midrange shots, really just trying to keep it on my right side and eliminate all the moving parts.”
He said the repetition eventually made the adjustment feel natural. Fogle described returning to the gym at night, putting up more shots and gradually gaining trust in the new mechanics.
“It just became more and more comfortable,” he said. “Then, yeah, just started to really apply it. And now it’s starting to feel really good.”
The volume matters, too. Fogle estimated that he was taking roughly 500 to 600 shots during offseason shooting sessions. The work showed Saturday: his 3-point shooting was clean, decisive and confident, and he was not simply waiting for catch-and-shoot opportunities. He also created looks, moved the ball and found ways to remain aggressive after getting into rhythm.
Mark Few said the staff saw the same progress throughout the offseason.
“He’s had a really, really nice offseason and really worked on some stuff,” Few said. “Today, I think he did a nice job creating and sharing it, making the extra one. But also, you’re feeling it like that from three, you’ve got to stay aggressive on it a little bit. He did a good job of that, too.”
Fogle’s evolution could be especially important for a Gonzaga team with a changing roster and several players still navigating eligibility questions. The Zags do not necessarily need him to produce 30 every night. They do need a wing who can punish defenses from deep, make quick decisions and give the offense a dependable returning voice.
That voice is becoming more literal as well.
Fogle said he has made a point of being more vocal this year, recognizing that he and Braden Huff are among the few players who have already experienced Gonzaga’s daily expectations.
“I’ve done this for a year now. These guys haven’t,” Fogle said. “Just trying to teach the young guys, even the new guys, kind of getting them adapted to the Zag culture.”
Few identified Fogle and Huff as leaders for the group, praising Fogle’s communication, work ethic and toughness.
“He’s been vocal, very good vocally, which is what we’ve kind of lacked in the past,” Few said. “Also, by example, by just how hard he works — in practice, out of practice — and just how physical he is, kind of how tough-minded he is.”
If Fogle was the event’s biggest burst of energy, Huff’s return may have been its most reassuring development.
The redshirt senior was back in front of Kennel fans after missing the final 17 games of last season with a dislocated kneecap. He scored 11 points, knocked down two 3-pointers and grabbed seven rebounds, but the broader takeaway was simply that he was playing again — and moving forward.
“Once I was able to finally get going, get live, that was a lot of fun,” Huff said. “Today was even just another step, just playing in front of fans again.”
Huff said returning to the floor in front of a crowd felt especially meaningful after the long recovery process.
“That just felt really good,” he said. “Just to get up and down. Super grateful to be back and in front of the Kennel.”
Few said Huff has been back at full speed since late summer and into the fall. He also believes a more mature body and a veteran’s confidence can help Huff become more assertive and more vocal.
That matters because Gonzaga’s frontcourt has questions to solve. Few said the Zags need more on the glass, particularly from their bigger players, and noted that Fogle and Isaiah Harwell were among the team’s best rebounders at this stage. Huff’s ability to rebound, space the floor and provide experience could help steady a frontcourt that is still taking shape.
Harwell provided another strong signal in his Kraziness debut, scoring 17 points while making four of five 3-point attempts.
The Houston transfer described the feeling of finally having a healthier offseason and a regular rhythm on the floor. Early in the summer, Gonzaga had only about eight players available, but that smaller group still created daily competition and repetition.
“We’ve all been pushing each other,” Harwell said. “Beginning of the summer, we only had about eight players, so just being able to go against each other and have full reps every day … and getting back to being myself again.”
Harwell’s path to Gonzaga comes after a difficult stretch. He said the confidence he has received from coaches and teammates has helped him reset.
“It’s a blessing,” Harwell said. “Being able to come back off of the injury and then, you know, didn’t have such a great year last year. But come in here and have the confidence from coaches and my own teammates is just amazing.”
Few offered a more contextual view of Harwell’s previous season, saying the guard had dealt with a knee injury, returned early and was playing behind talented players at Houston. At Gonzaga, Few sees both a healthier player and a clearer opportunity.
“I think it’s more like an opportunity now,” Few said. “He’s also a year older, is more mature, and he’s worked really hard on his game.”
Harwell’s shooting adds a needed dimension. Gonzaga’s two teams combined to make 18 of 32 3-point attempts in the scrimmage, an encouraging look for a group that shot 33.3% from beyond the arc last season. One afternoon cannot answer a season-long shooting question, but Fogle and Harwell gave the Kennel reason to think the perimeter ceiling may be higher.
The showcase also offered a glimpse at newcomers who could alter Gonzaga’s ceiling.
Point guard Xaivian Lee had nine points and four assists for the White team. Forward Chauncey Wiggins knocked down two 3-pointers and finished with eight points. Spanish forward Izan Almansa added seven points and seven rebounds for the Blue team. Diop’s length stood out, including an early blocked shot, and Few said the Arizona State transfer has the tools to become a rim protector while continuing to grow into his role.
Few also emphasized that this has been an unusual offseason. The roster came together in pieces, and the eligibility picture remains unsettled for several players. Still, he said the group has responded well to the uncertainty.
“It’s definitely totally disjointed and not what you’re used to,” Few said. “But once you get the guys here … it’s been great. All great guys, all very, very willing, coachable, good teammates.”
The coach’s hope is straightforward: the players still awaiting clearance get a chance to play.
“The best expectation would be the NCAA just lets these guys play,” Few said. “Our three guys are wonderful guys. They’re good students that are graduates, working on their master’s. These are the type of guys we should have in college basketball.”
For now, Gonzaga can only prepare the roster it has and wait for answers on the rest. That uncertainty will remain a defining preseason storyline, especially with the opener against Purdue approaching.
But Kraziness in the Kennel did provide a foundation. Fogle looks ready to assume a bigger role. Huff is back. Harwell appears motivated by a new opportunity. Gonzaga has shooting, length and experienced transfers who could broaden the rotation if cleared.
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