Gonzaga guard Cade Orness announces intention to enter transfer portal
Apr. 1—Cade Orness, a redshirt freshman guard who began his career at Gonzaga as a walk-on, plans to enter the transfer portal he announced Wednesday afternoon. Orness becomes the first member of the Zags' 2025-26 roster to announce intentions to enter the portal, which doesn't officially open until April 7, one day after the national championship game.
"This has been one of the toughest decisions I've had to make," Orness wrote in an Instagram post. There's a lot that comes with stepping away from a special place like this, especially because of the people and relationships that have meant so much to me. "But after a lot of thought and prayer, I have peace in knowing this is the next step for me in my journey through life and basketball.
With that being said, I will be entering the transfer portal. " The Poulsbo, Washington, native arrived at Gonzaga as a walk-on and redshirted in 2024-25. Orness earned a scholarship before the 2025-26 season, his father Scott told The Spokesman-Review in November, and played in eight games off the bench last season.
Orness totaled three points, one rebound and one steal during his redshirt freshman season. The 6-foot-8, 185-pound guard starred at North Kitsap, where his father was the coach, and set a school record with 1,821 career points while earning 2024 Olympic League MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors.