Gonzaga recruit Nolan Traore in attendance for San Diego State game

French prospect Nolan Traore represented France in FIBA U-18 Euro Championships

Gonzaga men's basketball had an intriguing attendee Friday night,  as 6-foot-4 prospect Nolan Traore from France sat front row to watch the Bulldogs take on San Diego State.

Traore, 17, played for France at the FIBA U-18 Euro Championships last summer and averaged 8.6 points, 2.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists on a French squad that finished fourth in the event. He scored in double figures in four of his seven appearances and was listed among the top 10 NBA prospects to compete at the event by ESPN.

Traore is listed as a possible first-round pick in the 2025 or 2026 NBA Draft by nbadraftroom.com.

Traore currently suits up for Pole France of the Nationale Masculine 1 league, averaging 16.5 points, 5.4 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 2.3 steals. He tallied a season-high 29 points in 30 minutes of action against SOM Boulogne on Oct. 27. In his latest outing, he had eight points against Besancon. 

Sitting next to Traore in the front row was former Gonzaga standout forward Killian Tillie, also a native of France. Tillie went undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft after being named All-WCC first team his senior year.

Former Gonzaga men's basketball star Killian Tillie (left) attended the Zags vs. San Diego State game with French recruit Nolan Traore (right).  / Photo by Erik Smith, Myk Crawford