Gonzaga's Graham Ike named Naismith Men's College Player of the Year Late-Season Finalist

The 6'9" forward is the only non-power conference player on the prestigious 30-player list.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Gonzaga forward Graham Ike has been named one of 30 players to the Naismith Men's College Player of the Year Late-Season Team, putting him in contention for the prestigious Naismith Trophy. Ike, a 6'9" senior, is leading the West Coast Conference in scoring at 19.9 points per game on 58% shooting. He has been on a tear over the last month, averaging 26.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game during an eight-game stretch.

Why it matters

Ike's selection as a Naismith Late-Season finalist is a major accomplishment for the Gonzaga program and highlights the continued growth and development of the Colorado native. As the only non-power conference player on the list, Ike's inclusion shows he is being recognized among the elite players in college basketball this season.

The details

Ike is one of 13 seniors on the 30-player Naismith Late-Season Team, and one of just two listed as a graduate student, along with Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg. The Big 12 leads all conferences with nine players on the team, followed by the SEC and Big Ten with seven each, and the ACC and Big East with three apiece. Gonzaga has faced several other players on the list this season, including Michigan's Lendeborg, Alabama's Labaron Philon, Purdue's Braden Smith, UConn's Alex Karaban, and others.

  • Ike was named to the Naismith Men's College Player of the Year Late-Season Team on February 19, 2026.

The players

Graham Ike

A 6'9" senior forward for the Gonzaga Bulldogs, leading the West Coast Conference in scoring at 19.9 points per game on 58% shooting.

Yaxel Lendeborg

A graduate student forward for the Michigan Wolverines, one of two graduate students named to the Naismith Late-Season Team alongside Ike.

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What they’re saying

“His development, not only of his game but his body, his conditioning. He never would've been able to play that many minutes. That says a lot about him, how he's wired and how he's built. … Playing with a lot of swagger and a lot of confidence and certainly playing like a First Team All-American in my eyes.”

— Chris Gerlufsen, San Francisco coach (si.com)

What’s next

A list of ten semifinalists for the Naismith Trophy will be revealed on March 20, the first Saturday of the NCAA Tournament, while the four finalists will be announced the following Saturday and the Player of the Year winner on April 5.

The takeaway

Graham Ike's selection as a Naismith Late-Season finalist is a testament to his outstanding play this season, particularly over the last month, and solidifies his status as one of the elite players in college basketball. As the only non-power conference player on the prestigious 30-player list, Ike's inclusion highlights the continued growth and success of the Gonzaga program.