Randy Bennett continues to build out his inaugural roster as the head coach at Arizona State. After securing a commit from former LSU wing Marcus Vaughns, Bennett has found another transfer commit, and it's one he's very familiar with.
NEWS: Gonzaga transfer Emmanuel Innocenti has committed to Arizona State, @247SportsPortal is told
— Dushawn London (@DushawnLondon1) April 13, 2026
Innocenti averaged 6 points and 3.8 rebounds this season. https://t.co/PTu7dbd6Wr pic.twitter.com/tgBZ85Z5QH
Emmanuel Innocenti comes over from Gonzaga, where he was third on the team in minutes played. Innocenti's box score - 6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1 steal per game - look pedestrian, but he was a key piece of a Bulldogs team that won 31 games and reached the Round of 32 before a narrow loss to Texas.
Innocenti isn't much of a scorer, but Gonzaga got him to transfer over from Tarleton State two years ago because of his elite defensive potential. Listed at 6'5", the Italian wing has uncommon length and athleticism for his height, making him a force to go up against.
This past season saw Innocenti finish third on the team in defensive win shares, a crucial metric for Bennett and his style of play. He had nine games with multiple steals recorded, eight games with a block, and routinely made defensive plays on the ball that led to steals for his teammates.
Innocenti has flashed potential on offense, too. He had six games with double digit scoring, and he got better at his outside shot as the season went on, with three different games towards the end of the year with multiple made three pointers.
One of those games saw Gonzaga beat Bennett and his Gaels 73-65. In that game, Innocenti hit on 50% of his three's and finished with 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, a block, and a steal. Bennett's star guard, Mikey Lewis, was held to just four points and only one made three, with Innocenti playing a heavy hand in the Bulldogs' defensive performance.
Welcome back, Emmanuel Innocenti.
— Steven Karr (@SKarrG0) October 28, 2025
So many other plays not in this package where he refuses to let his man even touch the ball. Dude is relentless. Defensive ceiling of this team is super high. pic.twitter.com/1JOX0hFNu3
Now, Bennett has Innocenti on his side. Going into his last year of eligibility, Innocenti probably figures to be a starter for the Sun Devils. His defense will be key to turning the program around, but Bennett is still going after some more proven scoring options.
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