Visits, Zooms, and Local Ties: Where Washington Stands in the Portal
Tracking the latest Washington Huskies basketball transfer portal news, visits, and confirmed targets as Danny Sprinkle rebuilds the UW roster for 2026.
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.
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.