Coach Danny Sprinkle has helped build what can be described as the deepest Washington Huskies roster in recent memory. He hit the transfer portal to acquire nine new players while signing two four-star recruits in the 2024 class and as the Huskies move into the Big Ten he has to assemble a new starting lineup for the second straight year.
But unlike his one year at Utah State, Sprinkle will have a few returning contributors from last year’s roster to help ease his transition to the Power 4 level.
Here’s what his starting lineup could look like to start the season.
The freshman phenom has an opportunity to step in and run the point right away thanks to his elite court vision and passing ability. He’ll thrive as a driver and could surprise with his scoring numbers in his first year but has a chance to lead the Huskies in assists, even as a freshman.
“He is one of the best high school basketball players in the nation and will have an immediate impact on our team at the collegiate level,” Sprinkle said after Diallo signed. “His quickness has allowed him to be an excellent scorer and facilitator. He is a terrific kid and has a magnetic personality which is great to have as a point guard. We can’t wait to have him on campus.”
Davis brings an exciting shooting presence that is a critical part of Sprinkle’s offense. A career 36.8 percent shooter from three-point range, the Butler transfer should find plenty of space on the floor to take quality looks during his final year of eligibility. He should also be a quality defender after averaging 1.1 steals per game.
“DJ Davis is a talented, veteran guard who will have an immediate impact on our program. He is one of the best shooters in the country with an exciting ability to stretch the defense with his unlimited range,” Sprinkle said. “We are excited for him to bring his veteran presence and poise to the Huskies.”
A talented scorer, Mason might move out to the wing position at Washington and won’t be relied on to take nearly as many shots as he was at Rice, where he averaged 12.1 shots per game last season. Those shots turned into 14 points per contest and with Mason as the team’s second-leading scorer, which could be the role he’s expected to play in Seattle, especially since he was the first player to commit to the Huskies after Sprinkle took the job.
“He is a tremendously athletic guard who can impact the game in multiple ways,” Sprinkle said. “Mekhi is dedicated to success in basketball and in the classroom and will be a great fit at Washington. His potential is limitless as he is still very young for his age, and I can see him making a huge jump.”
Last season’s Mountain West Player of the Year will once again be the focal point of Sprinkle’s offense and is expected to lead the Huskies in scoring during his final year of eligibility. As an elite finisher around the rim, moving from center to power forward should help him take advantage of some smaller matchups as he continues to improve his shooting touch from three-point range and attempts to develop into a stretch forward.
“We’re thrilled that Great decided to continue his career at Washington,” Sprinkle said. “He is a tough kid who loves physicality and wanted the opportunity to compete at the highest level, which is the Big Ten. It has been rewarding to watch his development over the past three years and our staff is excited to help him take another leap this year.”
Whenever Kepnang is on the floor, he has the ability to be one of the most impactful players in college basketball at both ends of the floor. He plays with extremely high intensity which has led to him averaging 8.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game over his two years in Seattle. However, that has come in just 18 games over two seasons due to multiple injuries.
If he can stay healthy this year, he could be the key to Washington’s success in the Big Ten.
“We’ve just go to keep him healthy. It’s too bad for coach Hopkins,” Sprinkle said on the Field of 68 Podcast. “Franck only played one game in the last two years in conference. He was kind of a game-changer. They would have won a lot more games with Franck on the floor. Hopefully, we can get him back to 100 percent and keep him healthy during conference because I think he and Great can really play well off each other.”