Zamir “Bam” Paschal, a class of 2026 point guard from Central Catholic (Portland, Ore.) appears to have taken a visit to Washington on Thursday, with an offer from Danny Sprinkle’s staff following the trip, according to his Instagram.

The 6-foot-1 Paschal is one of Oregon’s top 2026 prospects. The three-star recruit is the No. 1-ranked player in Oregon according to Rivals Industry Ranking and the No. 40 point guard nationally.

Paschal is coming off a senior season that ended with a deep state-tournament run for top-seeded Central Catholic. In the 6A state semifinal win against Jesuit, he scored 19 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter — going 7-for-7 from the floor in the period, including 2-of-2 from three.

Paschal also holds offers from Portland and Portland State. In early April, Washington State, Oregon State, Sacramento State, and UNLV were showing interest.

Washington’s recruitment of Paschal is coming late in the 2026 recruiting cycle, as most 2026 commitments are in. His recruitment for the Huskies makes sense. The team needs point guard depth behind USF transfer Ryan Beasley, the Huskies’ presumptive starting point guard. The team has three remaining roster spots and is thin at point guard.

If Paschal were to commit to the Huskies, he’d be the second player to sign with Washington from the 2026 class, following Lattimore Ford’s commitment in late April.

By my count, the team has three open roster spots to fill out the 15-player limit.

Here is the depth chart as it stands (class years are for the 2026-27 season):

PG: Ryan Beasley (Sr.); B.J. Roy (So.)

SG: Wesley Yates (Jr.); Parker Friedrichsen (Sr.); Lattimore Ford (Fr.)

SF: LeJuan Watts (Sr.); Steele Venters (Sr.): Jasir Rencher (So.)

PF/C: Wini Braga (Fr.); Mady Traore (Sr.); Lathan Sommerville (Jr.); Nikola Dzepina (So.)

Washington Head Coach Danny Sprinkle is likely looking for depth at the point guard position.

Wini Braga commits to Washington

Husky fans received good news on Tuesday, as Braga’s commitment to Washington became public. Wini (pronounced “Vinny”) Braga currently plays professionally for Minas Tenis Clube in the Novo Basquete Brasil (NBB) league. He is averaging 9.8 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.1 SPG, and 1.1 BPG, and shooting 52.4 % from the field this season.

Guilherme Tadeu, a writer for Cafe Belgrado, a Brazilian-based basketball podcast, said on X that Braga is a “light-bodied big man with above-average technical skills” that has a “soft touch around the basket.”

Braga may be the biggest offseason pickup for Washington Head Coach Danny Sprinkle. Kentucky and Georgetown were reportedly extended offers this offseason to Braga, with Texas and UConn also trying to land him in 2025.

In March, Braga starred for Brazil’s national team in the FIBA World Cup 2027 Americas Qualifiers in Miami. Braga’s play stood out among the younger generation of players participating in the qualifiers:

After playing only 10 minutes across the first window, Silva has made a statement during Window 2 with an average of 12 points per game, shooting 80 percent from the floor against Venezuela and 60 percent against Colombia.

Averaging just 13.5 minutes across windows, Silva has quickly become a go-to rotational player to make an offensive impact for Brazil, as the 6'9" forward is hard to stop in the paint.

Braga figures play a prominent role in the Huskies’ rotation next season, with a good possibility of locking down a starting spot. His professional and international experience makes him a lot more prepared than the usual incoming true freshman. Under the current NCAA rules, Braga has four years of eligibility. However, if the current “5 in 5” proposal passes, Braga would only have three years of eligibility because his 5-year clock started in 2024.

Huskies Eye Another International Prospect

Washington is also reportedly interested in 6-0 point guard Cauã Pacheco, another prospect from Brazil. Troy and Merrimack are also showing interest. Pacheco stars for Pinheiros in Brazil's NBB. He is averaging 10.2 PPG, 3.4 APG and 2.4 RPG.

What’s Left in the Transfer Portal?

Even though the transfer portal window is closed, as long as a player entered the portal while it was open, he may sign with any team after it closes. Here are six uncommitted names I’m keeping my eye on:

• Tyler Mrus, F, BYU (Jr.) — Washington showed preliminary interest in Mrus when the portal opened. He is still available and recently visited a WCC school. He is a 6-7 wing and is a Bothell-native who graduated from Seattle Prep. He shot nearly 38% from three when he was at Idaho two seasons ago.

• John Christofolis, G, Seattle U (Sr.) — The O’Dea grad received a medical waiver and will get another year of eligibility. While his numbers have steadily declined since his sophomore season at Seattle U, the hope would be that a change of scenery could return him to form when he averaged 12.7 PPG and shot 39.8 3PT % that season.

• Austin Maurer, C, Seattle U (So.) — There has been buzz around Maurer’s name and Washington, and Tuesday was the first time I saw the Huskies connected with Maurer via a reliable source. The seven-footer averaged nearly a block per game starring for the Redhawks this past season. He also averaged 7.2 PPG and 4.7 RPG.

• Ethan Copeland, G, Stetson (Jr.) — Copeland is drawing interest from Gonzaga, Loyola Marymount, and Pacific. He averaged 15.0 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 2.1 APG, 44.1% FG, 42.9% 3FG. He tallied 20 points or more in 9 games last season.

• Elijah Duval, G, Southern Utah (Fr.) — The WAC Freshman of the Year and second-team All-WAC is one of the coveted remaining guards in the portal. He averaged 15.3 PPG and 3.6 APG and would provide a worthy competitor to Ryan Beasley for the starting point guard spot. Duval visited UAB last Sunday.

• Kalen Garry, G, South Dakota State (RS Jr.) — Washington still needs point guard depth. Garry averaged 10.7 PPG 5.2 RPG, 3.2 APG. He’s been a full-time starter for the Jackrabbits the past two seasons.

Subscribe now

Class of 2027 Update

• Local four-star point guard Jalen Davis, out of Bremerton is starting to collect an impressive list of offers. Both Kansas and Texas Tech offered Davis at the end of April. A recent scouting report at Babcock Hoops stated that Davis could potentially be the No. 1 point guard in the 2027 class.

• Washington remains relevant in Darius Wabbington’s recruitment. The five-star center prospect is also being pursued by powerhouse programs Purdue, Louisville, Indiana, Texas, and Arizona. Wabbington took an official visit to Washington last fall.

• Malachi Jordan, a four-star wing who stars for Dream City Christian, recently broke down his visits with Washington and Tennessee last year for Rivals.

Washington has its first offensive lineman in the 2027 class.

Reis Russell, a 3-star interior offensive lineman out of Valor Christian in Littleton, Colorado, announced his commitment to the Huskies on Monday, choosing Jedd Fisch’s program over a final group that included Florida, Georgia, Miami, Oregon and SMU. Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett reported the commitment first.

For Russell, the decision came down to relationships — particularly the ones he had built with Fisch and offensive line coach Ivan Switzer.

“This staff is awesome and I can’t wait to be a DAWG!” Russell told SeaTown Sports. “Coach Switz and Fisch are the best and I’ve built a great relationship with them in this process!”

At 6-foot-3 and 290 pounds, Russell holds more than 30 offers from across the country and is rated as a top 10 prospect in Colorado. His official visit to Washington is scheduled for the June 19–21 weekend, a date that has been quietly stacking up as one of the most important on the Huskies’ summer board.

Russell’s recruitment had been trending in this direction for weeks. He named Washington to his top six in early February, framing the cut as a difficult one — “Each of these schools brings different stuff to the table,” he said at the time — but the pull from Montlake never let up. Switzer’s evaluation, his pitch, and the staff’s consistent presence in Russell’s process gradually turned a crowded field into a clear top of the board.

The commitment is significant for a few reasons.

First, it gives Washington its OL1 of the 2027 cycle, a critical anchor at a position the staff is rebuilding from the inside out. Interior offensive line has been a stated priority for Fisch and Switzer since they arrived in Seattle, and Russell is the kind of cornerstone you build a class around — high-end measurables, a deep offer sheet, and national-level competition for his services.

Subscribe now

Second, it’s a recruiting win on the talent map. Pulling a top-six target out of a field that included Georgia, Florida, and Oregon — Washington’s most direct Pacific Northwest competitor — is the kind of decision that signals where the Huskies sit in 2027 conversations. This wasn’t a recruitment Washington stumbled into. The staff was in it from the start, and they closed.

Third, it builds momentum heading into the spring and summer evaluation period. Washington’s 2027 official visit board is already loaded with offensive line targets in the program’s June 19–21 official weekend. Russell’s commitment gives the staff a young, engaged voice in the room when the rest of those visitors arrive on campus.

Russell joins a 2027 class that the Huskies have steadily been assembling, with a clear emphasis on Pacific Northwest roots, West Coast pipelines, and high-character family fits.

Now they have their offensive line cornerstone.

The Dawgs are on the board up front.

Rob Picketts did his homework.

The night before Wednesday afternoon’s Mariners v. Twins game, he checked the pitching matchup, saw the Twins were starting a righty, and bought a ticket in right field at Target Field — four rows up in a mostly empty section. Picketts told his daughter-in-law at dinner that he was going to sit there and catch a Cal Raleigh home run ball.

On Wednesday, I was watching the game at home when I saw someone in a purple UW hoodie catch J.P Crawford’s home run ball. I posted the screenshot to X. On Thursday morning, Rob’s stepson Zach saw the post, recognized his stepdad, and the rest sorted itself out.

Picketts was sort of right, by the way, on the home run prediction.

When Crawford’s ball came off the bat, Rob tracked it. “I don’t have the best depth perception, so I saw it coming my way and thought, this has a chance to go out,” he told me. “Then I realized the height of it and thought, uh oh, it’s going to hit me and I had better catch it and not look stupid.”

He caught it. His finger went numb for an inning. After he caught the ball, his phone blew up from a bunch of his buddies in Seattle. He told me that he previously had caught a foul ball off the bat of Carlos Febles of the Kansas City Royals at Safeco Field.

Rob’s a lifelong Husky and had season tickets for several years. He went to games as a kid with his dad, a UW grad. Last October, he was in Ann Arbor watching UW play Michigan. He might make it to Lincoln this fall. The purple and gold don’t come off just because he relocated to Minnesota after 50-plus years in Seattle.

The ball is going on his desk. Or maybe on top of his humidor. He hasn’t decided.

He does have a message for JP: “Thanks for hitting a ball I could catch. 375 feet away.” His wife wanted me to pass something along to Cal Raleigh — Rob got the nickname “Dumper” from his softball team 30 years ago. It stuck. His buddies have since upgraded it to “OG Dumper.”

Subscribe now

Winners and Losers

Winner: Cole Young. The rubber game in Minnesota was Young’s. He delivered the go-ahead two-run single in the ninth, capping a 5-1 road trip and pushing the Mariners to 16-16.

Loser: Matt Brash’s right side. Two pitches Wednesday, a quick conversation with the trainer and Dan Wilson, and he walked off the mound. Brash says he’s not “super concerned.” Players always say that, so time will tell if it’s actually not that serious of an injury.

Winner: Fortress Lumen. The Sounders are at 20 straight unbeaten at home across all competitions, the longest stretch in club history. Their last home loss was to PSG in last summer’s Club World Cup.

Loser: Anyone trying to predict who buys the Seahawks. On Thursday, Front Office Sports reported that Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and Apple’s Tim Cook were exploring bids to buy the Seahawks:

Both camps immediately refuted the story:

Looks like we’ll have to keep on speculating…

Fast Break

Words from the Wharf

What Does a Cole Young Extension Look Like?

When looking for the bright spots in what has so far been an up and down start to the 2026 season for the Seattle Mariners, the continued growth and development of Cole Young stands out as one of the brightest…

Read more

8 days ago · 3 likes · Jage

Storm Chasers WNBA Journal

Around the W: Preseason Rankings

The 2026 WNBA season is just a little over one week away. We have managed to work through an expansion draft, free agency, the college/amateur draft, training camp, and preseason games all within the past 25 days. With so much going on, I feel like I’ve written a new article nearly every single day…

Read more

9 days ago · 15 likes · 6 comments · Storm Chasers w/ Jeff Brown

On-Deck

• Mariners host Kansas City this weekend for a three-game series (Friday - Sunday)

• Randy Johnson jersey retirement — Saturday, May 2 at T-Mobile Park. Worth getting there early for.

• Mariners host Atlanta early next week at T-Mobile for a three-game series (Monday - Wednesday).

Updated - 4/30/26, 4:07 p.m. added Josh Christensen

The Washington Huskies wrap up spring practice Friday night with Dawgs After Dark, a 6:30 p.m. PT spring showcase under the lights at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. As is customary at this point in the calendar, Jedd Fisch and his staff will host a heavy contingent of recruiting visitors, headlined by their newest 2027 commit and a deep slate of in-state and regional priority targets across the 2027 and 2028 classes.

Below is a rundown of recruits confirmed by SeaTown Sports, expected to be in attendance, and a brief look at where each stands in the Huskies’ recruiting board.

Star ratings and rankings come from On3/Rivals.

Zach Albright (2027 commit, TE) — Glacier Peak HS, Snohomish, WA

6-5, 235 lbs. Three-star tight end. The newest pledge in the Huskies’ 2027 class, having committed to Washington on Monday night over offers from Michigan, Texas A&M, Wisconsin, Cal, Utah, and Minnesota. Albright is a three-sport athlete at Glacier Peak — also a standout basketball player and high jumper — and has been a frequent face on Montlake throughout the past year, attending the Illinois and Oregon games last fall, March’s Junior Day, and multiple spring practices. Tight ends coach Jordan Paopao made him a recruiting priority early, and that consistency paid off. Albright is now the third in-state pledge in the 2027 class, joining Sumner WR Braylon Pope and Graham-Kapowsin CB Maurice Williams. His official visit is set for June 5.

Zerek Sidney (2027 commit, WR) — Desert Edge HS, Goodyear, AZ

6-0, 175 lbs. Four-star wide receiver. The headline-grabbing 2027 commit when he picked Washington over Oklahoma, Arizona State, USC, and Notre Dame in late January. Sidney’s connection with WRs coach Kevin Cummings goes back to a 2024 sophomore season at Desert Edge in which he caught 45 passes for 591 yards and 11 touchdowns en route to an Arizona 5A championship. He’s the second wide receiver pledge in Washington’s 2027 class behind Pope and continues Cummings’ growing pipeline into Arizona, which previously produced current Husky wide receiver Dezmen Roebuck.

Braylon Pope (2027 commit, WR) — Sumner HS, Sumner WA

6-3, 190 lbs. Four-star wide receiver. Pope was the spark that ignited Washington’s 2027 class, becoming Jedd Fisch’s first commit for the cycle back in December. On3 rates him as the state’s No. 1 overall 2027 prospect. He helped lead Sumner to a 4A state championship over Lake Stevens at Husky Stadium. As a junior last fall, he racked up 52 receptions for 869 yards and 12 touchdowns. Wide receivers coach Kevin Cummings managed to keep the premier in-state talent home over offers from USC, Oregon, and Miami. His presence on campus for the spring game helps solidify his role as a peer recruit for the rest of the 2027 class.

Jeremy Adeyanju (2027 commit, RB) — Sandra Day O’Connor HS, Glendale, AZ

6-0, 215 lbs. Four-star running back. Committed in mid-March after taking a Junior Day visit on March 7. Adeyanju is the second Arizona pledge in this class. As a junior in 2024, Adeyanju ran for 1,167 yards and 15 touchdowns on 147 carries, breaking the 100-yard mark five times. RBs coach Scottie Graham was the lead recruiter and beat out Michigan, Wisconsin, USC, UCLA, and Florida among others.

Tytan McNeal (2028, TE) — Eastside Catholic HS, Sammamish, WA

6-5, 215 lbs. Four-star tight end. The No. 1 tight end in the country in the 2028 class and the top-ranked in-state recruit. McNeal already holds 25 offers and has been on a national tour this spring with visits to Cal, Michigan, and Texas. The Huskies extended an offer in 2024 and Paopao has continued to make him a priority. McNeal is also a high-major basketball recruit (he played EYBL with Seattle Rotary), so the recruitment is layered — but Washington remains squarely in the picture, with Eastside Catholic’s geographic proximity and the Paopao tight end track record working in their favor.

Ty Tautolo (2027, DL) — Lake Stevens HS, Lake Stevens, WA

6-5, 245 lbs. Three-star edge rusher. Tautolo has emerged as one of the most disruptive defensive players in the state — earning WSFCA 4A First Team All-State honors as a junior and helping lead Lake Stevens to the 4A state championship game. He holds over 10 offers including Washington, Oregon, Cal, Kansas State, and Texas A&M. Tautolo is a top defensive line priority for coach Jason Kaufusi, and he attended last year's spring game and the UW–Colorado State opener last fall. Proximity matters here, and so does the relationship Kaufusi has been building over multiple cycles.

AJ Tuivaiave (2028, QB) — Graham-Kapowsin HS, Parkland, WA

6-4, 225 lbs. Four-star pro-style quarterback. In his sophomore season, he was named SPSL Offensive Player of the Year and was the Tacoma News Tribune’s 1st Team All-Area QB. He led his team to an 11-2 record, tallying 3029 passing yards, a 70% completion percentage, 32 touchdowns, and only two interceptions. He already holds offers from Arizona State, Miami, BYU, and others, and at 14 years old, he was reportedly fielding D1 interest before he played a varsity snap. He’s the kind of homegrown talent Washington can’t afford to lose. A spring game visit is meaningful given how aggressively national programs are circling.

Subscribe now

Jordan Slye Jr. (2028, ATH/DB) — Salesian HS, Los Angeles, CA

6-1, 170 lbs. Two-way athlete projected as a defensive back. USC offered him as a freshman, and he’s added scholarships from UCLA, San Diego State, UNLV, Cal, and Colorado State. Slye visited USC during the March spring camp and has been working on additional west coast trips, with the UW spring game now joining that itinerary. Washington has been on him for a while; this is one of those visits where Fisch’s staff gets a chance to plant a flag before the 2028 recruitment kicks into a higher gear.

Markel Newell (2028, DB) — Puyallup HS, Puyallup, WA

5-11, 180 lbs. Athlete projected as a safety or cornerback. Holds 11 offers including Washington, Arizona, Arizona State, Boise State, and Washington State. The Huskies were the first to offer, and as a local product attending a school that has produced multiple recent Power 4 commits — including UW 2026 signee Ah Deong Yang — Newell is a name to track closely as the 2028 class develops.

Mekhi Fields (2028, CB/ATH) — Rainier Beach HS, Seattle, WA

5-11, 175 lbs. Fields plays both ways and has logged starts on Rainier Beach’s varsity since his freshman year. Sacramento State has extended an offer, with regional Power 4 interest building. Like Achilles Reyna, his teammate who recently picked up a UW offer, Fields represents Washington’s continued effort to recruit from Rainier Beach.

Share

MyKel Ramos (2028, DB) — Sierra Canyon HS, Chatsworth, CA

6-2, 170 lbs. Three-star defensive back. Ramos transferred to Sierra Canyon after a 2025 sophomore season at Mater Dei, where he played a part in a Trinity League championship run. He told SeaTown Sports that his Washington visit is locked in for the spring game, and he holds offers from Arizona State, North Carolina, Maryland, and Colorado State, with UW’s offer dating to last June. Secondary coach John Richardson has Ramos squarely on his board as the 2028 cycle starts to take shape.

Ofa Teu Tagovailoa-Taufalele (2028, OL) — Life Christian Academy, Tacoma, WA

6-3, 330 lbs. Interior offensive lineman. UW was his first Division I offer back in May 2024. His recruitment has grown steadily as he’s added size and polish. Coach Michael Switzer and the offensive line staff have been heavily involved in the local 2028 class, and Taufalele is a centerpiece of those efforts.

Michael Berardesco (2028, LB) — Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, NJ

Berardesco is a new target for the Huskies in the 2028 cycle. Berardesco received an offer from Washington in February 2025 and is making the cross-country trip for an unofficial visit to attend the spring game. He recently visited UConn in March and continues to see his recruitment expand nationally.

Nate Obasanjo (2027, LB) — Mount Rainier HS, Des Moines, WA

Obasanjo is a local linebacker on the Huskies’ radar. He made an unofficial visit to Montlake for a spring practice in early April and connected with Washington linebacker coach Brian Odom. He has official visits scheduled to Washington State and UNLV.

Gecova Doyal (2027, OL) — Puyallup HS, Puyallup, WA

6-4, 285 lbs. Offensive lineman. Doyal, a four-star recruit, is without a doubt, one of Jedd Fisch and Michael Switzer’s primary targets in the 2027 class. He is a premier in-state trench player in this cycle. After Washington’s Junior Day in March, he told On3 that he got a “great vibe” from the Washington coaching staff. He has official visits set with UCLA (May 15), Oregon (June 5), and Washington (June 19).

Luke Jennings (2028, OL) — Glacier Peak HS, Snohomish HS, WA

6-4, 290 lbs. Offensive lineman. Jennings is a promising sophomore from the in-state ranks who boasts excellent size and strength for his age. He makes the trip to Montlake alongside his Glacier Peak teammate, the newest 2027 Washington tight end commit, Zach Albright. A recent scouting report from Six Star Football highlighted his “ability to anchor effectively and control the point of attack.” Jenning is a name to monitor closely in the 2028 cycle. Friday night offers an opportunity for offensive line coach Michael Switzer to establish an early foundation for Washington in his recruitment.

Chrystian Ervin (2028, RB) — O’Dea HS, Seattle, WA

5-1, 205 lbs. Running back. Ervin is an emerging local prospect out of traditional powerhouse O’Dea High School. Keeping top-tier talent home is a priority for Jedd Fisch’s staff, and getting Ervin on campus for the spring game gives running backs coach Scottie Graham an early opportunity to build a relationship with Ervin before his recruitment kicks into high gear.

Josh Christensen (2027, EDGE) — Lake Oswego HS, Lake Oswego, OR

6-6, 250 lbs. EDGE. Christensen, a three-star edge rusher, is one of the most intriguing big-frame athletes in the Pacific Northwest. His recruitment has accelerated rapidly this spring; after visiting Washington for a spring practice in early April, he landed a Washington offer, followed shortly by an offer from the home-state Oregon Ducks. While he has already locked in June official visits to Utah, Washington State, and Northwestern, his presence at UW’s spring game allows defensive line coach Jason Kaufusi to continue building his relationship with Christensen.

Also Expected to Attend

• Lemani Fehoko (2027, DL/OL) — Junipero Serra HS, San Mateo, CA. 6-2, 270-pound trench player with 17 offers including Cal, Tennessee, Arizona, Minnesota, and Washington State. He’s set to officially visit Washington State on June 5; a UW visit Friday would be a notable get for Kaufusi and the defensive line staff in their efforts to break into the Bay Area.

We’ll have more on these visits as the weekend unfolds.

Chapters

• 00:00 The Significance of 1993 in Hip Hop History

• 03:05 The Evolution of Music Consumption

• 06:00 Kevin Durant’s NBA Journey and Controversies

• 09:00 Parker Friedrichsen and Oklahoma HS basketball

• 12:58 Seattle Mariners’ Current Season Overview

• 16:00 Analyzing Dan Wilson’s Management Decisions

• 25:06 Mariners’ Positive Dilemma with six starting pitchers

• 28:11 Rotation Decisions and Trade Value

• 30:50 Exploring a Six-Man Rotation

• 32:40 The Future of Pitching Prospects

• 36:30 Seahawks Draft Analysis

• 41:13 Secondary Depth and Future Prospects

• 48:39 Super Bowl Champs and Roster Depth

• 50:18 Filling the Gaps: Team Needs and Strategies

• 51:56 Draft Insights: Players and Their Journeys

• 52:21 Top Five Draft Picks: A Trivia Challenge

• 56:25 Huskies in the Draft: Historical Context

Follow SeaTown Sports’ Wait For It Seattle Podcast on Spotify

Subscribe to the Wait For It Seattle Podcast on YouTube.

Links

• Subscribe to the SeaTown Sports Substack!

• SeaTown Sports on Instagram

One of the top prospects in the state of Washington’s 2028 class is heading to Montlake this weekend.

Kaicen Carter, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound LB out of Federal Way High School, will take an unofficial visit to Washington on Saturday, April 26, for the Huskies’ spring practice, SeaTown Sports has learned.

Carter burst onto the recruiting scene after starring at the Avery Strong College Showcase at the University of Puget Sound, where he caught the attention of FBS programs and earned multiple scholarship offers in a single weekend. His combination of size, athleticism, and versatility on both sides of the ball has made him a priority target for programs across the country.

Carter has had one of the most impressive offseasons of any underclassman in the Northwest last year, landing double-digit offers while standing out on the 7-on-7 circuit. His offer sheet includes Washington, Cal, Minnesota, ASU, Boise State, UNLV, Colorado State, Arkansas, San Diego State, Idaho, and New Mexico.

Washington holds an obvious geographical advantage with Carter playing his high school ball less than 30 miles from Montlake. Saturday’s visit gives the Huskies a chance to make a strong in-person impression on one of their top in-state targets early in the 2028 cycle.

Danny Sprinkle has officially kept a key piece of local talent at home. Lattimore Ford, a 6-6 standout from Mount Si, announced his commitment to Washington on Friday via Instagram.

The 6-6 guard is Danny Sprinkle’s first commitment — and perhaps the only — of the 2026 class. Ford has been on Washington’s radar since his sophomore season, when he received a scholarship offer in May 2024. He later took an unofficial visit to Montlake in October 2024. After that visit, he told SeaTown Sports that the coaching staff is “like a family” and praised Sprinkle’s efforts in “creating a winning culture.”

Ford is an explosive athlete who can finish above the rim in both transition and half-court. He’s also a winner. Ford helped lead Mount Si to an undefeated record and a WIAA 4A state championship in his sophomore season. He recently competed in the 2026 Northwest Shootout and helped lead Team Washington to a victory, tallying 12 points and 11 rebounds in the all-star game.

VarsityWA

3 things that were key in Team Washington boys winning 2026 Northwest Shootout

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Northwest Shootout advertises itself as an all-star showcase…

Read more

24 days ago · 4 likes · Todd Milles

A shot to play at Washington was no guarantee. Following a stellar sophomore campaign, Ford tore his ACL at the end of his junior season, spending the entire summer grinding through rehab. His resilience paid off when he returned to action this past January for Mount Si and helped lead the team to a fourth-place finish at the state tournament.

For Ford, the decision ultimately came back to purpose — and place. “I’ve slowly been coming to the realization that this sport, with the amount of support I get, my job has become bigger than myself,” he said. “It has come full circle that that is my reality, and I’m thankful and blessed to be in this situation.” The coaching staff’s loyalty through his injury only deepened his commitment. “Them sticking with me throughout my injury meant the world to me,” Ford said. “I owe them all the effort I can give.”

That effort, he made clear, is for the city. “I am ready to give the University of Washington my all — through injuries, illnesses, whatever unexpected events may occur,” Ford said. “Husky fans, each and every extra rep and extra hour in the gym is for you.”

Ford’s addition further stabilizes a roster undergoing an offseason rebuild. He’ll provide Washington with needed depth at the shooting guard position and will battle for minutes off the bench behind Wesley Yates.

The Huskies lost a handful of seniors to graduation and other players to the transfer portal. Ford is the fifth new player to join the Huskies this offseason, along with four players out of the transfer portal. Sprinkle and his staff now have four roster spots to fill. The Huskies remain in play for UConn transfer and local high school standout Jaylin Stewart, but it remains to be seen if Stewart will return home.

For most of the first three weeks of this Mariners season, the middle of the order has stunk. Cal Raleigh was hitting below .150 for stretches. Julio had one extra-base hit through 14 games. Josh Naylor couldn’t find a hole to save his life.

Things, thankfully, are looking better for the trio.

Against the Athletics, in a three-game set at T-Mobile Park, Raleigh hit .462 in the series with three home runs, three RBIs, and four runs scored. Julio hit .500. Naylor hit .545 — including the walk-off single in the ninth inning on Wednesday that salvaged the finale. Eighteen of the Mariners’ 32 hits in the series came from those three bats alone.

Subscribe now

Raleigh’s stretch specifically is the one to circle. He homered in three consecutive games. Wednesday was his first three-hit game of the season. His batting average ticked up to .198 — still brutal on paper, but moving in the right direction for the first time all year.

Julio is hitting .245 with a .339 on-base percentage and a .645 OPS through 26 games. He only has one home run. The good news is that he’s on a 19-game on-base streak. I’m not too worried about the lack of power. It’s still early.

Naylor is hitting .194, but he just had a 3-for-5 day with the game-winning hit. Hopefully, this is a sign of good things to come for him.

The Mariners are 11-15 which is not great. The rest of the offense — the eight hitters not named Raleigh, Julio, or Naylor — combined for 14 hits in a three-game series, which isn’t ideal. Yet, as Wednesday’s game made clear, if Cal-Julio-Naylor can perform, anything from the rest of the lineup is gravy.

The Grand Salami Times

Julio Rodriguez's Consistent Cold Start

Julio Rodriguez has always had the talent. He is big, strong, fast, explosive… Whatever athletics-based adjective you want to use, he’s got it in spades. He has every baseball tool you could ask for: Hit, run, field, arm, and power. He’s also a good guy by all accounts, and has proven to be very adaptable and intelligent over the years. He heard the con…

Read more

16 days ago · 1 like · Grand Salami Time

Winners and Losers

• Winners — Seattle Seahawks (Draft, Night 1) — The Seahawks stayed at 32 and took Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price — projected as the second-best back in a class whose RB1 (his own Notre Dame teammate Jeremiyah Love) went third overall to the Arizona Cardinals. Price averaged 6.0 yards per carry in college and scored 11 TDs last year. The Seahawks have added a potential playmaker at a position of need. John Schneider has three remaining picks — the fewest in the league (Round 2, No. 64; Round 3, No. 96; Round 6, No. 188).

• Winners — Seattle Storm — The Storm left last week’s WNBA Draft looking like a team with a plan. Awa Fam at No. 3 (6’4” center from Spain), Flau’jae Johnson at No. 8 via a trade with Golden State, Taina Mair at No. 14, Grace VanSlooten at No. 39. Pairing Fam with last year’s No. 1 pick Dominique Malonga gives Seattle two young international bigs. Flau’jae is the star power.

• Mixed — Danny Sprinkle’s Rebuild — Four transfer portal commits so far — Parker Friedrichsen from Davidson, Steele Venters from Gonzaga, Ryan Beasley from USF, and LeJuan Watts from Texas Tech. This leaves 5 more spots to fill. I expect at least another commitment this weekend.

On-Deck All times Pacific

• Friday, Apr. 24 — NFL Draft Rounds 2-3, 4 p.m. (Seahawks at 64 and 96) | Mariners at St. Louis Cardinals, 5:15 p.m. (Kirby vs. Pallante)

• Saturday, Apr. 25 — NFL Draft Rounds 4-7, 9 a.m. (Seahawks at 188) | Mariners at Cardinals, 11:15 a.m. (Woo vs. Liberatore)

• Sunday, Apr. 26 — Mariners at Cardinals, 11:15 a.m. (Hancock vs. McGreevy)

UPDATE - 4/22, 12:52 p.m., Texas Tech transfer forward LeJuan Watts announced his commitment to Washington.

The portal window officially closed on Tuesday. That doesn’t mean the roster is done — players who entered before the deadline can still sign through the spring — but the pool of available names is now fixed. With the back-to-back commitments of Ryan Beasley on Monday and LeJuan Watts on Wednesday, Washington finally has a clear identity after a chaotic two weeks. and Washington finally has some shape after a chaotic two weeks. Here’s where things stand.

Beasley Solves the Point Guard Problem — for Now

Ryan Beasley committed to Washington on Monday, and he fills the single biggest hole on Huskies Head Coach Danny Sprinkle’s board: a starting floor general.

The 5-11 senior out of USF was Second Team All-WCC this past season, averaging 13.6 points, 4.0 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.2 steals while starting 31 games for the Dons. He’s logged 90 games over three seasons playing in the WCC. The production is solid without being spectacular, and the 32.7% from deep may be concerning at the guard position.

Beasley is the floor, not the ceiling, for this roster. If UW can land a second backcourt piece that can score at a higher level, Beasley slides into a true distributor role and becomes a better fit. If Sprinkle can’t close another guard, Beasley may be asked to carry more of the scoring load, which isn’t necessarily his strength.

Either way, it’s a meaningful win for Sprinkle — after losing Zoom Diallo to Kentucky and JJ Mandaquit to Arizona in the span of two weeks, just having an experienced starting point guard locked in is a meaningful win.

Watts Locks Down the Frontcourt

LeJuan Watts made it official on Wednesday morning, committing to Washington and ending a high-stakes recruitment for the Texas Tech transfer.

The 6-6 forward is versatile and physically imposing. Watts is coming off a season where he averaged 11.8 points, 6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, proving to be one of the most well-rounded forwards in the portal.

The fit was natural from the start. His brother, DeSean Watts, joined the UW football program earlier this year, and the Fresno connection with assistant Quincy Pondexter may have been the ultimate closer. With Watts in the fold, the Huskies have a Day 1 starter who can facilitate from the post, rebound, and provide veteran leadership

The Stewart Watch

Jaylin Stewart is the name I’m tracking most closely this week.

A Garfield High alum and top-60 recruit out of high school, Stewart spent the last three seasons at UConn, averaging four points in 16-18 minutes a night for the blue blood program. While his numbers may be modest, Stewart was a reliable contributor for UConn, a team loaded with talent. Washington offers him an excellent fit, as he would likely occupy the starting wing spot for the Huskies.

There’s mutual interest. Sources tell me UW reached out early, and Stewart’s camp is engaged. His stepfather posted “We got a busy week lined up” on X on Tuesday — the kind of social-media breadcrumb that doesn’t confirm anything on its own but lines up with what I’m hearing on the back end. Sources have also indicated that Washington has been active on the visit front more broadly, which tracks with a player whose hometown ties and profile make him a priority.

The caveat worth stating plainly: mutual interest isn’t a commitment, and a player with Stewart’s combination of pedigree is going to draw heavy competition. If Sprinkle does close this one, it would be a statement that this staff can still land hometown talent at a national level.

New Intel: Bryson Smith

Washburn transfer Bryson Smith is receiving interest from Washington, a source tells SeaTown Sports. The 6-2 guard started all 33 games for the D-II Ichabods this past season, averaging 11.3 points and 3.2 assists with 50 steals and 19 double-figure outings.

One important flag: Smith is seeking a waiver for a fifth year. There’s been plenty of chatter about a broader fifth-year-of-eligibility waiver shaking loose for some portal players, but nothing’s been granted yet, and any program pursuing Smith has to budget for the possibility that the waiver doesn’t come through. The D-II to D-I jump also doesn’t always translate cleanly. This is a situational add — depth and backcourt defense, not a headliner.

Dipping Into the JUCO Pool

Another wrinkle worth tracking: a source tells SeaTown Sports that Washington may expand its search into the JUCO ranks, and one name to watch is Zaheem Jackson.

Jackson, a 6-3 guard out of Baton Rouge, earned All-Conference honors at Kishwaukee College (Illinois) this past season after averaging 15.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game in AAC play.

Subscribe now

Still on the Board

A quick status check on the names I’m still tracking with confirmed UW interest:

• Mikey Lewis (Saint Mary’s) — Visited Washington on April 5, then followed up with visits to Vanderbilt and Oregon.

• Tijan Saine (Weber State) — 17.5 PPG last season, Mariner High School alum (Everett). UW reached out early; the response has been warm.

• Tyler Mrus (BYU) — 6-7 wing, Bothell native, Seattle Prep alum. Shot nearly 38% from three at Idaho. One year of eligibility remaining.

• Mason Williams (Iowa State) — O’Dea alum, former Eastern Washington standout. Missed this past season with a hip injury. The medical history matters, but a 37% career three-point shooter with Pacific Northwest roots is worth pursuing.

• Isaiah Elohim (FAU) — Former four-star out of Sierra Canyon. Pondexter overlapped with Elohim at USC in the 2024-25 season. Modest production, but the pedigree keeps him on the radar.

• Prophet Johnson (Sacramento State) — Same waiver flag as Bryson Smith. Pursue, but don’t count on it until it’s granted.

The Roster Math

• A scoring wing — This is where the Jaylin Stewart pursuit becomes critical. If Sprinkle can land the UConn transfer, the starting five transforms into a legitimate Big Ten threat.

• Backcourt depth — With Beasley locked in, the Huskies still need another guard who can defend and provide scoring relief off the bench.

• Frontcourt rotation — Watts is the centerpiece, but the Huskies still need a traditional rim protector to bolster the depth behind him, especially with Franck Kepnang in the portal.

Potential Targets

Names I’m watching where I don’t have confirmed contact between UW and the player’s camp:

• Niko Bundalo (Ole Miss) — Bundalo entered the portal Tuesday night, hours before the deadline, after a freshman season that never got off the ground at Ole Miss (0.5 points in 11 games, never more than eight minutes in a single outing). This is the name that matters most in this group: Bundalo was originally committed to Washington before decommitting and flipping to Ole Miss last spring. The 6-10 former McDonald’s All-American has three years of eligibility remaining, a pre-existing relationship with the UW staff, and now an incentive to find a situation where he can actually play. If Sprinkle gets back in early, this is a frontcourt swing worth taking.

• Semetri Carr (Cal) — Carr is worth tracking: UW was one of his offers coming out of Redwood HS in Northern California before he chose the Bears, and the relationship predates the portal. He’s a 6-1 true point guard who appeared in 23 games as a freshman in the ACC.

• Tounde Yessoufou (Baylor) — Yessoufou also entered the portal Tuesday night, hours before the deadline, while simultaneously going through the NBA Draft process. Washington was involved with Yessoufou’s high school recruitment, before he ultimately chose Baylor. His numbers are elite: 17.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game as a freshman. UCLA is one of the named leaders, and realistically, he’s likely headed to a blue blood or straight to the pros. He’s a name to put on the board even if the odds are long.

• Isaiah Watts (Maryland): The grandson of Sonics legend Slick Watts is back in the portal. After a rotational role at Maryland, the Seattle native and former WSU standout is a prime candidate to provide backcourt depth and local energy for his final year of eligibility.

Share

Off the Board

• Gavin Sykes (Long Beach State) — Visited Virginia Tech, then TCU. No buzz around Washington at this stage.

• Rob Lee Jr. (Lamar)— Transferred to Western Michigan.

• Jaylen Petty (Texas Tech) — Transferred to UCLA.

• Braeden Smith (Gonzaga) — Transferred to Notre Dame.

• Daniel Freitag (Buffalo) — Transferred to Oregon State.

• Drew Fielder (Boise State) — Transferred to Alabama.

• TJ Burch (Wright State) — Transferred to Utah.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to John Randle and Seahawks Legends

• 03:16 Mariners Fanny Pack Hat and Game Experience

• 06:17 NBA Tanking Proposals and Their Implications

• 09:26 PWHL’s Gold Plan and Its Impact on Tanking

• 12:28 Kraken’s Performance and Future Strategies

• 18:29 Mariners’ Current Season and Player Performances

• 29:27 The Transfer Portal and College Basketball Dynamics

• 42:20 NFL Draft Anticipation and Seahawks Nostalgia

• 45:10 Draft Day Anticipation

• 47:19 Seahawks Draft Strategy

• 49:52 Running Back Prospects

• 51:21 Concessions at T-Mobile Park

Follow SeaTown Sports’ Wait For It Seattle Podcast on Spotify

Subscribe to the Wait For It Seattle Podcast on YouTube.

Links

• Subscribe to the SeaTown Sports Substack!

• SeaTown Sports on Instagram

I’ve heard a persistent whisper amongst Husky fans, especially those tracking the current transfer portal cycle for men’s basketball: Has a donor or set of donors pulled their funding? Will UW be able to rebuild and sign a group of heralded transfers without these rumored big donors around?

If you’re still losing sleep over whether a specific booster is cutting a check, you’re worrying about a 2024 problem in a 2026 world. In the post-House settlement era, the “donor” is no longer the savior—the market is.

The New Architecture: The Floor and the Ceiling

To understand why donor anxiety is misplaced, you have to understand the two-story building that is now college athletics finance.

1. The First Floor: The Revenue Share (The Floor) Under the House v. NCAA settlement, UW now pays athletes directly. This “Revenue Share” pool starts at roughly $20.5 million and, crucially, increases every year as media rights grow. This is the “floor.” Every powerhouse program—from Ohio State to Kentucky—is paying up to this cap.

However, there’s a catch for basketball fans: this is a department-wide fund. The majority of that $20.5 million is logically earmarked for football, with the remainder split among basketball and other sports.

2. The Second Floor: Third-Party NIL (The Ceiling) This is where the game is won or lost. This floor is uncapped. Any money a player makes above the revenue share must come from “real” third-party brands. This is the only way to outspend the competition.

The real concern shouldn’t be “Is a donor leaving?” It should be “Is UW producing enough legitimate commercial opportunities to out-earn the rest of the Big Ten?”

Why the “Donor” is Now High-Friction

Before 2025, a donor could hand over $500,000 to a collective with no questions asked. Those days are gone. Today, every deal over $600 must be cleared through NIL Go (the clearinghouse managed by Deloitte).

The clearinghouse applies a Fair Market Value (FMV) test. If a donor wants to give a point guard $500,000, they have to prove that the athlete is actually providing $500,000 of commercial value. For an individual booster, that’s a massive legal and logistical hurdle.

The Seattle Advantage: The Corporate Engine

Washington’s competitive advantage isn’t a single deep-pocketed fan; it’s the Fortune 500 ecosystem in its backyard. This is where Dawgs Unleashed—UW’s internal marketing agency—comes in. They aren’t asking for donations; they are building brand endorsements that should easily pass muster through the NIL Go clearinghouse because they have built-in commercial logic.

Unlike the black-box collective payments of the past, modern and real NIL is built on transparent partnerships with global brands. UW has leaned into its “official” relationships to create these paths for athletes. For example, you may remember seeing Husky football players Demond Williams and Jonah Coleman in an Alaska Airlines commercial. Other big providers of third-party NIL include Adidas and Learfield. Learfield, as the exclusive multimedia rightsholder, works alongside Dawgs Unleashed to integrate athlete influencers into venue signage, broadcasts, and corporate promotions.

What This Means for Danny Sprinkle

When Sprinkle recruits the portal, he isn’t selling a “booster’s whim.” He is selling a seat at the table of the Seattle economy. He can offer a slice of the $20.5 million revenue share (the floor), but the “closer” is the Third-Party NIL (the ceiling). If UW can layer an additional $10-$12 million in corporate deals on top of the department-wide cap, it can stay competitive.

The Bottom Line

Complaining that a specific booster might pull their money is no longer a concern. The question concerned Husky fans isn’t “Who is writing the checks?” It’s “How can our business community create more opportunities for these athletes to be brand ambassadors?” That is how the gap is closed. That is how the ceiling is raised.

This is the opinion of Kevin Cacabelos. Leave a comment, or email kevin@seatownsports.com

Washington Lands Venters and Friedrichsen

The Huskies jump-started their recruiting class this week with two major backcourt additions. On Sunday, Washington secured Davidson’s Parker Friedrichsen. They followed that up on Wednesday evening by landing a commitment from Gonzaga’s Steele Venters.

Parker Friedrichsen (Davidson) - Guard, 6-4

Washington’s first portal commitment of the offseason is a 6-4, 200 lb guard from Bixby, Oklahoma. Friedrichsen, who will be a senior next fall, committed to Washington following a weekend visit to Montlake. After spending two seasons at Wake Forest and one at Davidson, Friedrichsen brings valuable experience. He averaged 10.8 PPG, 2.5 RPG, and 1.4 APG last season while shooting a blistering 40.5% from deep. He projects as a premier long-range threat for the Huskies.

Steele Venters (Gonzaga) - Forward, 6-7

The Huskies doubled down on shooting by securing the Ellensburg native. Venters moves across the state after a stint with the Zags and three standout seasons at Eastern Washington, where he earned Big Sky Player of the Year honors in 2023. With career averages of 11.4 PPG and a 39.6% three-point clip, Venters provides veteran leadership and elite floor-spacing on the wing.

Visit Watch: Braeden Smith Reportedly Visiting Washington

Braeden Smith (Gonzaga) - Guard, 6-0

As one former Zag just committed to Washington, another one might be right behind him. I previewed last week that Washington was likely targeting Smith after the Gonzaga guard announced entering the transfer portal. Smith, a former Seattle Prep standout and Colgate star, is visiting Washington, according to a report from 247 Sports’ Jack McCauley.

The Huskies are desperate for a floor general, and Smith fits the bill perfectly. A former Patriot League Player of the Year, he is a high-IQ distributor who would likely slide into the starting point guard spot immediately.

The Backcourt Exodus

The portal giveth, and it taketh away. Washington saw two significant departures this week:

• Zoom Diallo: The hometown hero officially signed with Kentucky on Wednesday. While losing a talent like Diallo (15.7 PPG, 4.5 APG) is a blow to the program’s local optics, the Huskies are pivoting quickly to veteran replacements.

• JJ Mandaquit: The freshman guard committed to Arizona on Monday, further thinning the returning backcourt depth.

Confirmed Targets

Guards

• Mikey Lewis, G (Saint Mary’s): After visiting Washington on Sunday, Lewis headed to Oregon. He averaged 13.9 PPG and shot 36.8% from three last season.

• Mason Williams (Iowa State): As I highlighted last weekend, it was likely that Washington had Williams on its board as soon as he entered the portal. According to the Portal Report, Washington is one of the schools showing interest in Williams. The O’Dea alum and former Eastern Washington standout is a high-priority homecoming target. Despite a hip injury last year, his 37% career three-point average makes him an ideal replacement for lost scoring.

• Gavin Sykes (Long Beach State): The Big West Freshman of the Year (19.4 PPG) is one of the most coveted scorers available .According to The Athletic’s Tobias Bass, Washington is showing interest in Sykes. He is doing Zooms with schools before setting up visits. The Huskies will obviously want to get him on campus.

Subscribe now

• Tijan Saine (Weber State): Before the portal opening, I highlighted Saine as a potential target for the Huskies. Washington eventually reached out to Saine last Sunday, expressing their interest in potentially bringing him back to the Northwest, where he attended Mariner High School in Everett. Saine exploded for 17.5 ppg at Weber State. He would provide immediate veteran leadership and experience to the Huskies.

• Jake Hall (New Mexico): The Mountain West Freshman of the Year is a lethal shooter, averaging 16.4 PPG on 43.8% from beyond the arc.

• Isaiah Elohim (FAU): A four-star prospect out of high school, Elohim blossmed at FAU after a stint at USC. He averaged 12.4 PPG and 4.2 RPG this past season.

• Daniel Freitag (Buffalo): Freitag exploded at Buffalo last season after transferring from Wisconsin. The 6-2 guard averaged 19.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, and 3.8 APG.

Forwards and Centers

• LeJuan Watts (Texas Tech): Watts remains a priority target for Washington after visiting the Huskies on Saturday (Apr. 11). He is a battle-tested and high-motor forward who averaged 11.8 PPG, 6 RPG, and 2.4 APG in the Big 12 last season.

• Drew Fielder, C (Boise State): A stretch-five who shot 40.9% from three last season. He is set to visit Washington following a trip to Nebraska.

• TJ Burch (Wright State): A defensive specialist and the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year. He averaged 12.4 PPG and led his league in steals.

• Tyler Mrus (BYU): The Huskies are looking at Tyler Mrus, a Seattle Prep graduate entering his final year of eligibility. Prior to his transfer to BYU, Mrus started 31 games at Idaho, where he averaged 9.7 PPG and shot 38% from three-point range.

• Franck Kepnang (Washington): Kepnang announced he is entering the portal on Tuesday (Apr. 14) with “the possibility of wearing the Purple and Gold one last time.”

Likely Targets

• Isaiah Watts (Maryland): The grandson of Sonics legend Slick Watts is back in the portal. After a rotational role at Maryland, the Seattle native and former WSU standout is a prime candidate to provide backcourt depth and local energy for his final year of eligibility.

Off the Board

Players Washington targeted, but have committed elsewhere or are not visiting Washington

Commitments: Zoom Diallo (Kentucky); Jaylen Petty (UCLA)

Not visiting Washington as of now: Tylen Riley (Tulsa); Cruz Davis (Hofstra); Ice Emery (Cleveland State)

Chapters

• 06:24 The Storm’s Rebuilding Strategy

• 11:57 Comparing Team Strategies: Kraken and Mariners

• 14:34 WNBA Free Agency and Team Changes

• 15:31 Analyzing the Storm’s Roster Moves

• 20:36 Upcoming WNBA Draft Predictions

• 27:08 Transfer Portal News and College Basketball

  40:02 UW women’s Basketball: Building a Competitive Team

• 44:18 Mariners’ Performance and Team Dynamics

• 51:03 Concessions and Fan Experience at Mariners Games

• 54:30 Mariners Left Fielders: A Historical Perspective

• 01:03:43 Longest Tenured Seattle Athletes: A Trivia Challenge

Follow SeaTown Sports’ Wait For It Seattle Podcast on Spotify

Subscribe to the Wait For It Seattle Podcast on YouTube.

Links

• Subscribe to the SeaTown Sports Substack!

• SeaTown Sports on Instagram

We have hit the first weekend of the men’s basketball transfer portal weekend. Things are moving fast. Here’s what has happened in the first four days: Washington has had at least two on-campus visits and confirmed Zoom activity with several targets. The staff is moving. What shakes out over the rest of the transfer portal window will define Year Three under Danny Sprinkle before it even starts.

For an update on departing Huskies, head on over to our transfer portal tracker:

Here is where things stand as of this weekend.

CONFIRMED INTEREST

These are players for whom there is confirmed or credible reported interest between Washington and the player’s camp. Some are further along than others — I’ve noted where things stand for each.

LeJuan Watts | F | 6’6” | Texas Tech

Testing NBA Draft simultaneously · 1 year eligibility remaining

According to 247 Sports’ Jack McCauley, Washington hosted Watts for a visit on Saturday. Watts is the player Quincy Pondexter and the UW staff came closest to landing last spring, when he chose Texas Tech instead. He was a force at WSU, averaging 13.7 points and 6.7 rebounds while shooting a blistering 42% from three.

His brother DeSean Watts transferred to Washington from Sacramento State this past football transfer portal window. The family connection, Pondexter’s pre-existing relationship, and now a reported visit — this is the most significant development of the portal window for UW fans so far.

Steele Venters | W | 6’7” | Gonzaga

Former Big Sky Player of the Year · Ellensburg, WA

According to 247 Sports’ Jack McCauley, Washington hosted Venters for a visit this weekend. will be entering his seventh year of college basketball, and he will need to win a medical waiver from the NCAA to play in 2026-27. That waiver is not guaranteed, and any program that pursues him has to budget for the possibility that it doesn’t come through.

Venters is a former Big Sky Player of the Year who averaged 15.3 PPG at Eastern Washington. After two injury-plagued years at Gonzaga, he’s looking for a fresh start. If a waiver is granted, he can be an elite 6-7 floor-spacer this roster desperately needs.

Mikey Lewis | G | 6’3” | Saint Mary’s

Two years of eligibility remaining · Oakland, CA

According to Jon Rothstein, the former four-star recruit is scheduled to visit Washington on Sunday. Lewis, a dynamic scoring guard, averaged 13.9 ppg for the Gaels, who made the NCAA tournament this past season.

Lewis was a top-100 recruit coming out of high school who chose Saint Mary’s over several high-major offers.

With the Huskies looking to replace significant production in the backcourt, Lewis offers a high-upside combination of size and scoring ability. His experience in a disciplined, winning culture like Saint Mary’s makes him a plug-and-play candidate for Danny Sprinkle’s rotation.

Drew Fielder | C | 6’11” | Boise State

One year of eligibility · Idaho-native

The most actionable name on this list right now. Fielder visited Nebraska and will visit Washington next, according to a report by Sam Kayser.

Fielder led the Mountain West in field goal percentage while shooting 40.9% from three. With Hannes Steinbach likely NBA-bound, UW has a massive vacancy in the frontcourt.

Jaylen Petty | G | 6’1” | Texas Tech

Three years of eligibility · Rainier Beach HS, Seattle

This one is personal for Dawg fans and it should be. Petty is a Seattle native — Rainier Beach High School, Washington Gatorade Player of the Year — who averaged 9.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists and shot 37.5% from three in 33 Big 12 games as a true freshman.

Petty is one of the most valuable young guards in the portal with significant long term upside.

As of Thursday, per a source, I was told Petty is expecting to cut his list down to three schools. I’d expect Washington to get a visit given their involvement with his recruitment coming out of high school, along with it being Petty’s hometown school.

Daniel Freitag | G | 6’2” | Buffalo

Two years of eligibility · Former 4-star recruit

Freitag is getting interest from Washington. Freitag signed with Wisconsin as a top-100 recruit, spent one year largely unused in Madison, transferred to Buffalo, and averaged 19.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists this season — one of the MAC’s best guard performances.

A 6-2 former 4-star who erupted for nearly 20 points a night after being written off is a player worth a serious look. With Washington’s backcourt effectively starting from scratch, Freitag profiles as a legitimate option if his camp is willing to bet on a rebuilding program with a clear starting role available.

Ryan Prather Jr. | G | 6’5” | Robert Morris

At least one year of eligibility remaining · Clarksburg, MD

Prather led the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio this season (4.44). He’s a smart, efficient playmaker who averaged 15.7 PPG and shot 37% from three. Prather is a reliable point guard who would address UW’s biggest position need. He is on a visit to Iowa State this weekend.

Ice Emery | G | 6’0” | Cleveland State

Horizon League Sixth Man of the Year · Appleton, WI

Emery was the Horizon League Sixth Man of the Year this past season. He averaged 12.7 PPG and provided a spark off the bench with a 38.2% clip from deep.

TJ Burch | G | 6’1” | Wright State

Two years of eligiblity remaining · Dallas, TX

Burch averaged 12.4 points, 3.6 assists, and 2.6 steals this season at Wright State after starting his career at Ball State. The steals number — 2.6 per game — is the standout figure, suggesting an active, disruptive defender who can also create offense.

Isaiah Elohim | G | 6’5” | FAU

Former 4-star recruit · Multiple years of eligibility remaining

Elohim was a highly recruited prospect out of Sierra Canyon High School in California — turned down Kentucky, Kansas, and Michigan to follow Eric Musselman to USC — before transferring to FAU after limited playing time. On USC’s staff during Elohim’s freshman season was current UW assistant coach Quincy Pondexter. Though the production at FAU was modest (12.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1 apg) Elohim’s underlying profile of being a 6-5 combo guard with a legitimate recruiting pedigree is worth monitoring.

Tyler Mrus | F | 6’7” | BYU

From Bothell, WA · One year of eligibility remaining

The Pacific Northwest connection is the hook here. Mrus is a 6’7” wing from Bothell, Washington, who shot nearly 38% from three during two seasons at Idaho before transferring to BYU.

A 6-7 shooter from Bothell who has flashed legitimate three-point ability is worth a look for the Huskies.

The Homegrown Shortlist

These are players where UW is expected to be involved, or where the fit is strong enough that contact is likely if it hasn't happened already.

Legend Smiley | G | 6’5” | San Francisco

Three years of eligibility · Seattle-native

Smiley attended Garfield and won a 3A state championship there, before finishing his high school career at Link Academy. This past season he shot 42% from three in 33 WCC games as a true freshman at USF.

Braeden Smith | G | 6’0” | Gonzaga

One year of eligibility · Seattle Prep alum

Smith was Patriot League Player of the Year at Colgate — 12.5 points and a league-leading 5.6 assists per game — before transferring to Gonzaga, where he started 18 games this season and averaged 5.1 points and 3.6 assists in a diminished role.

Isaiah Watts | G | Maryland

One year of eligibility · West Seattle-native

Watts was a starter at Washington State (11 ppg) before transferring to Maryland where he appeared in 32 games for the Terapins this past season. Watts is the son of Husky legend Donald Watts Jr. and the grandson of Sonics legend Slick Watts.

Mason Williams | G | Iowa State

Missed 2025-26 season due to injury · O’Dea alum

Williams averaged 13.9 points per game in 2024-25 at Eastern Washington. He then transferred to Iowa State, where he missed this season due to injury. Williams’ local ties likely has him on Sprinkle’s radar.

The Seattle Storm have existed - maybe even thrived - in WNBA purgatory for the last two seasons. Led by two 35 year old elite players, Seattle’s ceiling was a first round playoff loss. Meanwhile they have a budding star with last year’s #2 pick and the current #3 pick in the WNBA draft. Aging superstars and young talent don’t often mix well. The Storm are no different.

In order to leave purgatory, Seattle must cleanse themselves of a former self. For years, the franchise stayed relevant with Sue Bird and Jewell Loyd, followed by Skylar Diggins and Nneka Ogwumike. Those are all players on the back end of their career and/or long retired. That relevance, that “star” power, may sell tickets, but it doesn’t win championships. Any version with Skylar and Nneka is no match for the Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty. They just aren’t good enough to compete with those two teams. So it is time to cleanse and move forward with youth.

The Storm should build everything around Dominique Malonga. The 6”6’ French national 20 year old has all the tools to be a franchise player. She needs the opportunity to be the focal point of everything this team does for the next couple years. Let her fail. Let her shine. Let her do it all.

But pair her with a guard who can create. The Storm has to be praying that Olivia Miles out of TCU falls to them at #3 overall next Monday. Miles is as good of a passing guard to come out of college in years. Her vision and creativity is unparalleled. Are there some concerns with Miles? Sure. She tends to hide at times and isn’t a committed defender, but that vision is a skill that cannot be taught or found somewhere else.

With Miles, Jordan Horston and Malonga, the Storm have a core that could grow into a championship contender years down the road. That may also include Ezi Magbegor. On Tuesday, Seattle placed the “core” designation on Ezi. Whether they keep her or trade her will be interesting in the coming days. It feels redundant to have Magbegor and Malonga on the court together, but at the same time, their size could make things difficult on the rest of the league. If Magbegor could shoot closer to 40% rather than 30% from three point range, this two -headed big show could work. The best move is to see what the Storm can get in return for Ezi via trade. Regardless of keeping Magbegor or trading her, this team could really accelarate their timeline with two other moves.

Re-sign Gabby Williams. She is a star and does everything you want in a winning player. An elite defender, a shot maker, great size, and a secondary ball handler. Give her as much as you need to give her.

Go get Young. Jackie Young.

Pay Jackie Young the max deal and give her as many shots as she wants. Young is 28 years old and in the prime of her career. A starting lineup of Miles, Young, Williams, Malonga and Horston would be pretty good. In just a couple years, it could be elite. It could even lift the Storm out of sports purgatory.

Chapters

• 02:59 The State of Santa Clara Basketball and Mariners’ Struggles

• 05:49 Bill Simmons and the NBA Expansion Debate

• 08:50 Seattle’s Optimism for NBA Expansion

• 11:56 Seahawks on Hard Knocks: A New Era

• 15:05 Mariners’ Early Season Struggles and Analysis

• 17:52 WNBA Expansion Draft and Seattle Storm Updates

• 26:27 Drafting Decisions and Player Value

• 30:01 WNBA Free Agency Dynamics

• 35:50 Roster Changes and Team Strategies

• 37:09 UW men’s and women’s basketball - The Transfer Portal and Player Movement

• 56:36 Legal Landscape: NCAA Regulations and Athlete Rights

• 01:00:56 Top Five: Seahawks Rushing Leaders and Team Decisions

Follow SeaTown Sports’ Wait For It Seattle Podcast on Spotify

Subscribe to the Wait For It Seattle Podcast on YouTube.

Links

• Subscribe to the SeaTown Sports Substack!

• SeaTown Sports on Instagram

The departures started last week. Sophomore guard Zoom Diallo — 15.7 points per game, a Tacoma kid who had been in the program since Sprinkle’s first day — entered the portal (keeping open the option of returning). Freshman point guard JJ Mandaquit also announced he was hitting the portal after a single year at Washington. So did freshman guard Courtland Muldrew. Add Hannes Steinbach, likely heading to the NBA Draft, a few seniors exhausting eligibility, and Sprinkle is building from close to scratch heading into Year Three of his tenure. With the core of the backcourt effectively wiped clean, Sprinkle needs bodies to survive the Big Ten next season.

The needs are not complicated to diagnose. UW needs a creator at the point of attack to replace Diallo’s ability to get to the paint. It needs perimeter shooting — a persistent weakness that Big Ten opponents exploited consistently. And it needs frontcourt size, with Steinbach likely gone. The portal window opens on April 7. Here are the seven names Sprinkle should be prioritizing when it does.

Jackson Shelstad

G · 6’1” · Oregon → Portal · 2 years eligibility (pending medical redshirt)

Shelstad is from West Linn, Oregon — he committed to the Ducks three years ago and now he’s leaving Eugene, and UW is the closest Power Four program.

Before a hand injury ended his season in late December, Shelstad was averaging 15.6 points and 4.9 assists in 12 games, on pace to be one of the best guards in the Big Ten. He led Oregon to two straight NCAA Tournament appearances, earned Third Team All-Big Ten honors in 2025, and is applying for a medical redshirt that, if granted, gives him two years remaining. 247Sports ranks him No. 8 in the portal.

He solves both backcourt losses simultaneously — Diallo’s scoring, Mandaquit’s playmaking. Every program with a guard need will give him and his representatives a call. Sprinkle needs to call first.

Subscribe now

Terrence Hill Jr.

G · 6’3” · VCU → Portal · 2 years eligibility

The one detail worth knowing about Hill is that Sprinkle recruited him at Utah State. When Sprinkle left for Washington in 2024, Hill reopened his recruitment and followed coach Ryan Odom to VCU instead. Now Hill is back on the market. Sprinkle gets a second chance.

This season Hill averaged 15.0 points per game on 46.6% from the field and 37% from three coming off the bench — earning First Team All-A10, Sixth Man of the Year, Most Improved Player, and A10 Tournament MVP. Then March happened: 34 points against North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament, 7-of-10 from three, including the go-ahead three in the final minute of a 19-point comeback win in overtime. He is a Portland native fromRoosevelt High School, 45 minutes from the Washington border.

Hill has two years of eligibility and would bring first Team all-conference production to the Huskies.

Legend Smiley

G · 6’5” · San Francisco → Portal · 3 years eligibility

Could Smiley return home? The 6-5 guard went to Garfield High School in Seattle’s Central District. There, he won a 3A state championship as a sophomore and was named tournament MVP. For his senior year, Smiley left for Link Academy in Missouri and signed with USF as a four-star recruit.

In 33 WCC games as a true freshman, Smiley shot 42% from three and averaged 8.1 points per game. UW’s perimeter shooting was a problem this season. Sprinkle has a hometown pitch no other program on the market can make.

Tyrone Riley IV

G/W · 6’6” · San Francisco → Portal · 2 years eligibility

The more proven of the two USF guards available, Riley earned Second Team All-WCC honors after posting 12.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game on 47.2% from the field. Riley would fill the perimeter scoring void Diallo leaves — Riley at 6-6 can create off the dribble, defend multiple positions, and produce in a featured role.

Tijan Saine Jr.

G · 5’10” · Weber State → Portal · 2 years eligibility

Saine is an intruging name for the Huskies. The 5-10 guard is from Everett, Washington — 25 miles north of Seattle. He walked on at Division II Western Washington with no scholarship, averaged 17.3 points and 4.0 assists as a sophomore, and Portal Report ranked him the No. 6 D-II transfer in the country.

At Weber State in his first D-I season, he led the Big Sky in conference-play scoring at 20.8 points per game and earned First Team All-Big Sky. Sprinkle’s staff tracked him throughout. He has at least two years of eligibility remaining. The competitive trajectory — walk-on to All-Conference in one D-I season — reflects a player who finds ways to make it work. He may bethe most achievable name on this list, and the one where UW has a edge.

Andrew Meadow

F · 6’7” · Boise State → Portal · 1 year eligibility

Meadow started every game for Boise State this season, averaging 12.1 points on 51% from the field and 38.6% from three in the Mountain West, scoring in double figures in his final six consecutive games.

He is a one-year rental, and programs will factor that in. But for a team that needs frontcourt spacing immediately and has Andrew Meadow available at 6-7 shooting 38.6% from three, the fit is clean.

LeJuan Watts

F · 6’6” · Texas Tech → Portal · 1 year eligibility (confirm) · Testing NBA Draft

The caveat first: Watts is simultaneously testing the NBA Draft. Return to college is the expected outcome given his 2025-26 numbers, but nothing is confirmed. If he comes back, UW’s positioning is as strong as any program in the field.

Washington assistant coach Quincy Pondexter led UW’s recruitment of Watts out of WSU last spring. Watts’ best college season came at WSU: 13.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game, shooting 55% from the field and 42% from three. The Texas Tech year was a regression — 32.1% from three in the Big 12 — but the underlying profile of a versatile 6-6 forward who can pass, rebound, and shoot remains intact. His brother DeSean Watts is a current UW football player, transferred from Sac State. The family connection, the Pondexter relationship, and the Big Ten platform are a coherent pitch.

ALSO WATCHING

• Joel Foxwell — Portland 15.6 PPG and 6.5 APG as a WCC freshman. If Shelstad goes elsewhere, Foxwell is the next call at point guard. Four years of eligibility.

• Isaiah Johnson — Colorado Broke Colorado’s freshman single-season scoring record tallying 540 total points and averaging 16.9 PPG in the Big 12. The highest-upside guard in the portal, and likely one of the most expensive.

• Kyle Evans — UC Irvine Led the nation in blocks at 3.3 per game. Big West Defensive Player of the Year.

• Keanu Dawes — Utah 6-9 forward, 12.5 PPG and 8.8 RPG in the Big 12. At least one year of eligibility.

  Thanks for reading SeaTown Sports! Subscribe for free to receive new posts.

The Leadoff - Mariners are off and running

Seattle Sports is at an all-time high. The Seahawks are the reigning Super Bowl champions. The Sonics’ return appears imminent. And the Mariners are favorites to represent the American League in the World Series. Did I just write that sentence?

This past offseason, the conversation around the Mariners felt different. From the outset of the offseason, the Mariners signed first baseman Josh Naylor. After that, to me, anything else would’ve been gravy. The team then went out and nabbed utility player Brendan Donovan to play third base. For a team that was just innings away from its first-ever World Series birth back in October, this was just enough.

Now we’re back in action, and this team is chasing a World Series championship. Losing three out of four against the Yankees isn’t exactly a rousing start. But it’s only April 2nd and we are only seven games into a 162-game season. The Seattle Times has already run a “no need to panic” piece. Julio Rodriguez is 2-for-26, Naylor is 1-for-27, and Cal Raleigh has struck out 15 out of the 25 at-bats. We’re used to a Julio cold start. We are alos used to Cal striking out a ton. The Naylor cold start is something new. I’m not worried at all. This team started 3-4 last season (and in 2021, 2022, and 2024) and turned out just fine.

Subscribe now

Besides the cold bats, the pitching has been electric. Luis Castillo went six scoreless against the Yankees in the walk-off game, two hits, seven strikeouts, looking every bit like a legitimate ace. Emerson Hancock also pitched six scoreless innings, no-hitting the Guardians in those innings. Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, and Bryan Woo also appear to be in mid-season form. The Mariners’ whole identity is built on the staff, and the staff is holding up its end of the bargain.

The opening seven games has not been ideal. After a winter of expectations, going 3-4 against the Guardians and Yankees is not the statement anyone was hoping for. But I’ve been watching this team long enough to know that cold April bats are a feature of baseball, not a crisis. The pitching is real. The lineup is real. The only question is when, not whether.

Winners & Losers

Winner: Luis Castillo Six innings, two hits, seven strikeouts, zero runs against the Yankees. Castillo looked like an ace.

Winner: Cal Raleigh’s Walk-off Yes, he struck out 10 times in the team’s four games. Yes, that’s a Mariners record for Ks to start a season. But he also delivered the moment that handed the Yankees their first loss of the year.

Loser: The M’s Cleanup Trio (So Far) Julio Rodríguez, Josh Naylor, and Cal Raleigh — the core of Seattle’s big-swing offseason — are a combined 7-for-78 to start the year. That’s a .090 batting average for the guys who were supposed to be the reason this team finally scores runs. It’s early. It always is. But the numbers aren't good.

Loser: The Seattle Kraken It’s April 2nd, the regular season ends April 16th, and the Kraken are sitting at 32-30-11 with 75 points — just outside the playoff picture in the Western Conference. This is a brutal stretch to be on the outside looking in. They still have games left to play their way back in, but the margin is thin and the calendar is not cooperating.

Loser: Sounders Schedule Planning The Seahawks being the defending Super Bowl champs is mostly great news, but it does have side effects. The NFL opener will be hosted at Lumen Field on October 1st, which caused the Sounders to shuffle two matches off their original schedule.

Fast Break

• UW women’s basketball coach Tina Langley and Washington agreed to a six-year, $7.1 million extension that extends through the 2031-32 season. This is a major win for the program who has made two straight trips to the NCAA tournament.

• Seahawks bringing the UW pipeline to the NFL. The Hawks are reportedly hiring Jimmie Dougherty, the former Huskies offensive coordinator and QB coach, as an offensive assistant. His first NFL gig at 47 years old. The UW-to-Seahawks connection keeps deepening, and it makes you wonder how much of the Huskies’ offensive scheme will show up in the Seahawks’ playbook.

• Denzel Boston getting draft buzz. The AP’s mock NFL Draft has UW wide receiver Denzel Boston projected to the Cleveland Browns. Hopefully, that doesn’t happen for Boston’s sake.

On-Deck

• Mariners in Anaheim (this week). The Angels series is the first real road test of 2026 — and more importantly, it’s the stretch where we’ll start to find out if the offensive struggles will continue for the meat of the order.

• Kraken crunch time. Every Kraken game between now and April 16th is basically a playoff game. A win or two this week could flip the picture entirely.

• Seahawks offseason. The draft is coming. Seattle picks at Nos. 32 (Round 1), 64 (Round 2), 96 (Round 3), and 188 (Round 6, from Cleveland).

Worth Reading:

Mariners Wheelhouse

Debut Watch: Projecting Which Mariners Prospects Reach Seattle in 2026

The Mariners spent a couple of years talking about waves of talent, and suddenly that wave is right on top of them. Colt Emerson is already in Triple‑A after a borderline breakout season, Kade Anderson showed up to camp with 15 extra pounds of good weight and MLB‑ready polish, Michael Arroyo’s bat is forcing uncomfortable defensive conversations, and a …

Read more

a month ago · 1 like · Casey Bellon

Most recent update: LeJuan Watts Commits to Washington (Apr. 22)

I will be tracking outgoing and incoming transfers for the University of Washington men’s basketball program. This will be a living article, updated throughout the transfer portal window.

There will inevitably be some defections and also some additions. The Huskies will lose Quimari Peterson, Desmond Claude, and Jacob Ognacevic to graduation. The team will likely also see Hannes Steinbach leave for the NBA draft.

The portal opens on Tuesday, April 7, the day after the national championship. As of now, the only players who can officially enter the portal are those at schools who have had a coaching change. Despite this, many players are announcing their intent to enter the portal once it opens, which is why this tracker is live before April 7.

This is the only time you’ll receive this post as an email; I’ll update the website version with each portal entry or addition, so feel free to bookmark it.

Transfers in

G Parker Friedrichsen (Apr. 13)

Washington’s first portal commitment this offseason is a 6-4, 200-lb guard from Bixby, Oklahoma. Friedrichsen, who will be a senior next fall, committed to Washington after completing a weekend visit to Montlake. Friedrichsen spent two seasons at Wake Forest before spending this past season at Davidson. At Davidson, Friedrichsen averaged 10.8 ppg, 2.5 4 rpg, and 1.4 ast per game. He projects as a long-range shooter off the bench for the Huskies. This past season, he shot 40.5 percent from deep.

F Steele Venters (Apr. 15)

The Huskies secured a commitment from another sharpshooter. The 6-7, 200-lb Ellensburg, Washington native moves across the state from Gonzaga. Before his stint with the Zags, Venters played three seasons at Eastern Washington. He earned Big Sky Player of the Year honors in 2023. In his career, Venters has averaged 11.4 points per game and shot 39.6% from three-point range. After serving in a rotational role at Gonzaga, Venters will bring to Montlake veteran leadership and a reliable three-point wing shooter.

G Ryan Beasley (Apr. 20)

Danny Sprinkle may have his starting point guard. Beasley, a 5-11, 180-lb USF transfer, is on an upward trajectory. The rising senior will plug a hole left by the departures of JJ Mandaquit and Zoom Diallo. He appeared in 90 games in three seasons for the Dons, and was the team’s starting point guard this past season. Beasley earned Second Team All-WCC honors, averaging 13.6 PPG, 4.0 APG, 3.4 RPG, and 1.2 steals. He shot 40.7 percent from the field and 32.7 percent from beyond the arc.

F LeJuan Watts (Apr. 22)

Washington likely landed its biggest transfer portal commitment of the cycle when Texas Tech forward LeJuan Watts made his pledge to the Huskies. Watts, the older brother of Washington football player DeSean Watts, is a versatile rising senior who can score, rebound, and facilitate out of the low post. He is undersized at 6-6 at the pure power forward position, but depending on how the lineup and opposing lineups shake out, Sprinkle can choose to play him at the 3 as well. He averaged 11.8 PPG, 6 RPG, 4.2 APG for a Texas Tech team competing in the Big 12. He is a sure-fire starter for the Huskies.

Transfers out

G Courtland Muldrew (Mar. 31)

The freshman guard out of Texas will move on from the Huskies after appearing in 20 games, primarily off the bench. His production took off near the end of the season after his playing time increased due to a rash of injuries that Washington suffered. He scored 8 or more points in the team’s final four games. With his departure, Washington’s backcourt depth has taken a hit, and the staff will look to find a replacement for him in the portal.

G JJ Mandaquit (Apr. 3)

The freshman point guard from Hilo, Hawaii will move on after a season defined by flashes of promise and the cruelty of injury. Mandaquit appeared in 22 games and made six starts, averaging 5.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in 19.7 minutes per game — showing early why Sprinkle was excited about him, including a season-high 15 points on three threes against No. 4 Michigan in January. But the foot injury he’d been managing all season caught up with him: after re-aggravating it on a Midwest road trip, he underwent surgery in New York and never returned, with his last game coming against Northwestern on Jan. 31. A three-time gold medalist with the United States Junior National Team and a consensus four-star recruit ranked No. 50 overall in his class , the talent was never the question. His departure leaves Washington without a natural floor general heading into a portal window where finding one will be among Sprinkle’s most pressing needs.

(UPDATE, Apr. 13: Mandaquit is committing to Arizona, according to his agency Roc Nation Sports)

G Zoom Diallo (Apr. 3)

The Huskies’ best player not named Hannes Steinbach is testing the market. Diallo, who averaged 15.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists as a sophomore, enters the portal with the option to return to Washington — making this one to watch rather than a clean departure. The 6-foot-4 guard was the engine of the Huskies’ backcourt this season, and his decision will go a long way toward shaping what this roster looks like in 2026-27. If he stays, Sprinkle has a foundation to build around. If he doesn’t, Washington loses its most dynamic backcourt piece at a time when the program can least afford it.

(UPDATE, Apr. 15: Diallo is committing to Kentucky, according to multiple reports)

G Desmond Claude (Apr. 12)

Pete Nakos from On3 reports that Claude has entered the transfer portal. Claude left Washington in January, so this does not materially change anything for the Huskies as he was not expected to return next season. Claude is seeking a medical hardship waiver for a fifth and final season. Before leaving the team in January, he averaged 13.3 points per game and was one of the team’s primary scorers.

C Franck Kepnang (Apr. 14)

Kepnang announced on X that he is entering the portal with “the possibility of wearing the Purple and Gold one last time.” Kepnang just concluded his fourth season at Washington, after previously transferring to the program after spending two seasons at Oregon. His post states that he is a graduate transfer with one year of eligibility remaining. Wherever he ends up, he’ll be playing his seventh season of college basketball. Sprinkle has yet another hole to fill in the front court.