Tag: Washington Huskies Basketball

Great Osobor officially rounds out Danny Sprinkle’s first recruiting class

Great Osobor officially signed his letter of intent with the Washington Huskies on Friday.

Danny Sprinkle has done an extremely impressive job in the transfer portal during his first offseason as the Washington Huskies‘ head coach. Even if he didn’t reel in his best player from his time at Utah State, forward Great Osobor, he put together a very good roster that should compete in the Big Ten.

But he was still able to get Osobor to commit which takes his roster from very good to potentially … great.

On Friday, last season’s Mountain West Player of the Year made his commitment official, signing his letter of intent to attend Washington for his final season of college basketball.

After averaging 17.7 points and 9 rebounds during his one year with the Aggies, Osobor hit the transfer portal when his head coach left for Washington and was one of the nation’s most coveted prospects thanks to his production and experience on the interior, which is extremely difficult to find.

Offers and NIL deals rolled in from most of the nation’s top programs for 247Sports’ No. 7 rated transfer player, who eventually agreed to a record-breaking $2 million deal, making him the player with the largest known deal in the sport.

Now that he’s signed with Washington, Osobor could quickly become one of the more recognizable faces in Seattle.

Washington women’s basketball earns commitment from five-star Brynn McGaughy

The Huskies’ women’s basketball program secured a big win on the recruiting trail, earning a commitment from five-star Brynn McGaughy.

On Wednesday, Washington earned a commitment from one of the nation’s top 20 recruits. Colfax, Washington native Brynn McGaughy elected to stay in her home state and commit to coach Tina Langley and the Huskies.

McGaughy, a 6-foot-3 forward who led Colfax to a state title as a sophomore, picked Washington over strong recruiting pushes from Duke, Iowa, UCLA, and Utah. She is ranked as the No. 17 recruit in the 2025 class by ESPN.

“I think the main thing for me was the culture and people there,” McGaughy told Dushawn London of 247Sports. “Their vision for me is really good and the impact I can make when I get there my freshman year will be great. I fit in really good and they feel like family.”

McGaughy is believed to be the highest-rated recruit to ever commit to the Huskies program. Liz Lay, the No. 18 recruit in 2008, is the highest-rated recruit in ESPN’s database, which extends back to 2007. Former No. 1 overall pick Kelsey Plum was ranked No. 26 in 2013.

“I never wanted to stay in Washington and I wasn’t planning on it until I took my visit,” she said. “From there, I knew that’s where I wanted to be. Early on, and up until my visit, I wanted to go out of state and have a far experience. But, it’s still 6 hours away. Staying home really wasn’t a factor in why I committed there.”

McGaughy will be a key component in Langley’s attempt to elevate the women’s basketball program to new heights. The Huskies were 7-16 in Langley’s first season in 2021, but improved to 19-15 and 16-15 in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Washington has not finished better than No. 8 in the Pac-12 since Mike Neighbors’ final season on Montlake in 2016-17, when the Huskies were 29-6 and finished tied for second in the conference.

Tyler Harris withdraws from NBA Draft to attend Washington

Portland transfer Tyler Harris tested the NBA draft waters, but decided to withdraw and enroll at Washington.

Washington Huskies sophomore Tyler Harris has NBA potential and he thought he was ready to cash in on it after one season with the Portland Pilots. Along with entering the transfer portal, the 6-foot-8, 190-pound forward also entered his name into the NBA draft, but withdrew it over the weekend to play for coach Danny Sprinkle.

Harris, who played in 22 games last season and averaged 12.1 points and 7.3 rebounds as a freshman while playing close to 34 minutes per game, is expected to be a key part of Sprinkle’s rotation during his first year with the Huskies.

He might not start right away, as Oakland transfer Chris Conway is also expected to be part of an important part of Sprinkle’s plans on the wing, but Harris has the potential to be one of the biggest surprises in the Big Ten next year.

After shooting 46 percent from the floor and 35.8 percent from the three-point line, it’s clear to see why Harris was eyeing the NBA after one year in college, but returning to college for at least one more season is the right decision for the promising sophomore.

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Former Washington guard Nate Calmese transfers to WSU

Former Washington guard Nate Calmese has found a home on the other side of the state.

Former Washington Huskies guard Nate Calmese won’t have to travel very far for his new school. The sophomore from Gilbert, Arizona is headed to Washington State University and his third school in as many years.

Calmese saw the court in just 16 of Washington’s 32 games during his one season on Montlake, averaging 4.1 points and 0.8 assists per game after being named the Freshman of the Year in the Southland Conference during his one year at Lamar University. He averaged 17.6 points per contest and voiced his displeasure about his role on coach Mike Hopkins’ team before the Pac-12 tournament.

“My main goal is just to play,” Calmese said before the tournament. “As you can see, it didn’t really work out here. So at the end of the day, I really want to play and produce my talents on the court.”

He entered the portal on April 4 and almost two months later, landed in Pullman and should be part of new coach David Riley’s rebuild. The Cougars saw eight players depart after coach Kyle Smith, who did an impressive job building the program, left for Stanford.

The move could have also been fueled by Danny Sprinkle’s acquisition of Mekhi Mason, a 6-foot-5 sophomore from Rice University who averaged 14.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game last season

Two Huskies star at Seattle Humane’s Tuxes and Tails

Two Washington Huskies starred at the Seattle Humane society’s Tuxes and Tails event, helping raise money for rescue animals in need of a home.

In an uncertain world of name, image, and likeness, Montlake Futures, Washington’s NIL collective, has made a name for itself by using the name, image, and likeness of its student-athletes with good causes. The group has mainly used its platform to support non-profit organizations like the Boys and Girls Club and the American Heart Association.

Last week, those partnerships continued with another non-profit, the Seattle Humane Society, as Washington football senior Kamren Fabiculanan and Washington women’s basketball junior Elle Ladine participated in its annual Tuxes and Tails event.

As part of the event, both players walked the runway with bowtie-wearing kittens in hand that are available for adoption through Seattle Humane. According to the Tuxes and Tails website, the event raised $1.5 million in support of the organization.

“These critical funds will power Seattle Humane’s lifesaving work for pets in need, both at the shelter and in our community,” a statement from Seattle Humane said. “We are so grateful to this community for coming together to support our work and mission when we need them most.

This is the second year that Washington’s student-athletes have participated in the event, as wide receiver Giles Jackson and linebackers Carson Bruener and Edefuan Ulofoshio acted as “celebrity dog-walkers” in 2023.

As NIL continues to grow and change every day, Montlake Futures continues to be at the forefront of finding ways to combine paying student-athletes with great causes, and this is just another example of the good NIL can do in the Seattle community.

Tyler Harris could be Washington basketball’s secret weapon in 2024

The Washington Huskies got an exciting pickup in Portland forward Tyler Harris who could make a major impact this season for Danny Sprinkle.

Coach Danny Sprinkle has done an impressive job building up the Washington Huskies roster since his arrival from Utah State in late March. Headlined by Mountain West Player of the Year Great Osobor, the Huskies should be competitive in the Big Ten, but that will take much more than just their top transfer. One of their top acquisitions, Portland forward Tyler Harris, who should make a big impact, seems to have flown under the radar.

Harris is an intriguing piece who fits Sprinkle’s system and could continue to develop at a rapid pace in his offense.

“Tyler had an impressive freshman season at Portland,” Sprinkle said after he signed. “His unique size gives him the ability to do things that most guards can’t. Our staff was most impressed with his rebounding and shot-making ability. He is a great talent to have on our team.”

During his one year with the Pilots, the 6-foot-8, 190-pound Harris averaged 12.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game while shooting 46 percent from the floor and 35.8 percent from three-point range. Thanks to his strong work ethic, Harris, who wasn’t known as a three-point shooter in high school, made remarkable strides in that area of his game once he got to Portland.

“I came here actually not really shooting threes at all,” he told the Portland Tribune’s Isaac Streeter in 2023. “I was mostly just rim-running, mid-range and floaters. I realized I needed to expand my game … I remember in the summer, I was on a shooting machine almost every day (and) getting like 500 shots up.”

If he can stay healthy after missing 10 games with an ankle injury in his only year with the Pilots, Harris could make a big impact at both ends of the floor.

His length and athleticism have helped make him a very good defender and when combined with his ability to rebound and improvements as a shooter, he could turn into an exciting weapon for the Huskies this season. [lawrence-related id=3168]

Tyree Ihenacho’s commitment brings Washington to scholarship limit

The addition of North Dakota guard Tyree Ihenacho crowds Washington’s backcourt with a litany of accomplished and hyped playmakers alike.

Tyree Ihenacho has had a winding journey to Montlake. After starting 22 of 23 games as a freshman in 2020-21 for North Dakota, winning Summit League Freshman of the Year honors along the way, Ihenacho transferred to James Madison. Injuries limited him to 14 games as a sophomore, but he bounced back as a junior, playing in 25 games and starting 14 for the Dukes.

Ihenacho returned to North Dakota for the 2023-24 season, telling local media that he “shouldn’t have left in the first place”. After waiting until mid-December for an eligibility decision, he started in 19 of his 21 appearances and led the Fighting Hawks in assists while scoring more than 20 points on seven occasions. All of that was good for an All-Summit League Second Team selection.

But North Dakota lost much of its rotation to the transfer portal or graduation, so it was time for Ihenacho to seek out a new opportunity. He initially committed to Wyoming in mid-April, but backed out of his commitment when the Cowboys hired former Green Bay head coach Sundance Wicks last week.

That left the door open for Danny Sprinkle and Washington, who announced they had secured a commitment from the 6-foot-4, 190-pound guard on Friday.

Ihenacho gives the Huskies a steady veteran hand at point guard, where Washington graduates Sahvir Wheeler but adds consensus four-star recruit Zoom Diallo. If Diallo is ready to start at point guard right away, Ihenacho could also slide to shooting guard, pushing Rice transfer Mekhi Mason to either small forward or into a sixth man role.

Ihenacho could also be the lead playmaker on the Huskies’ second unit. Washington also added transfer guards DJ Davis (Butler) and Luis Kortright (Rhode Island), who should push for minutes in a suddenly crowded backcourt.

For a Huskies team losing all four players who averaged double digit points last season (Keion Brooks, Wheeler, Moses Wood, and Koren Johnson), Ihenacho’s 14.5 points per game last season at North Dakota will be a key aspect of his impact on Montlake.

Washington has now added eight transfer commitments under Sprinkle, including four in the past week.

Five of them could make up the starting five on opening night: Ihenacho or Davis could start at point guard, with either Ihenacho, Davis, Kortright, or Mason at shooting guard. Mason or Portland transfer Tyler Harris could start at small forward, with Oakland transfer Chris Conway at power forward and Utah State transfer Great Osobor at center.

With those eight – Washington also added Oregon State big man KC Ibekwe to add depth behind Osobor – and Diallo, it’s possible, though unlikely, that the entire Huskies rotation in 2024-25 is made up of players who did not suit up for Washington in 2023-24. That’s not a problem for Sprinkle, who used a nine man rotation with no returning production last season at Utah State.

Washington does return two players who averaged more than ten minutes a game last season with big men Franck Kepnang and Wilhelm Breidenbach returning, which will add competition in the frontcourt.

The Huskies are now at the limit of 13 scholarship players, with forward Christian King, who redshirted last season, and prep guard Jase Butler accounting for the final two spots next to the eight transfers, Diallo, Kepnang, and Breidenbach.

Six of those scholarships belong to guards, with Mason as the only one who can feasibly shift to small forward without the Huskies playing extra small lineups.

So if Ihenacho’s commitment makes anything clear, it’s that the competition in the backcourt will be fierce. The Huskies will be hoping that iron sharpens iron.

Washington Basketball gets commitment from PG Tyree Ihenacho

The Washington Huskies have filled out their roster with the commitment of North Dakota guard Tyree Ihenacho.

The Washington Huskies and coach Danny Sprinkle have continued their strong run in the transfer portal, landing another promising guard in North Dakota product Tyree Ihenacho.

The 6-foot-4 senior will spend his last year of eligibility on Montlake and brings length and scoring prowess to Seattle, where he could be utilized as one of Sprinkle’s top bench assets.

He comes to the Huskies after averaging 14.5 points, 5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game and earned a spot on the All-Summit second team during his junior season. Ihenacho has had a productive career with the Fighting Hawks, producing 11.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4 assists per contest in his career.

This was Sprinkle’s final scholarship for the 2024-25 season and Ihenacho brings great depth to roster. His commitment is also Sprinkle’s third of the week, following Utah State forward Great Osobor and Portland forward Tyler Harris.

Now that his roster is filled out, it’s clear that Sprinkle values length and versatility on both sides of the ball and fans should expect to see a lot of three guard lineups during his first year at Washington.

 

Osobor gives Washington basketball its best frontcourt depth in years

The Washington Huskies will have their best depth in the frontcourt in a long time thanks to Great Osobor.

The Washington Huskies’ acquisition of former Utah State forward Great Osobor is significant for many reasons. Not only does he become the highest-paid known college basketball player, earning a $2 million NIL deal, but he also gives Washington an elite scorer and impressive depth in the frontcourt.

After winning Mountain West Player of the Year last season, averaging 17.9 points, 9 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game, he will almost certainly be the focal point of coach Danny Sprinkle’s offense for the second straight season.

Beyond that, he brings so much more to the Huskies, giving the team their deepest frontcourt in a long time when combining him with forward Wilhelm Breidenbach and centers Franck Kepnang and KC Ibekwe.

The starting combination of Osobor and Kepnang will bring intensity and a strong presence at both ends of the floor, while Breidenbach and Ibekwe should provide good relief options that can play strong defense and efficient scoring options from time to time.

Since his arrival, Sprinkle has done an impressive job rebuilding Washington’s roster after an extended stretch of disappointment under coach Mike Hopkins. Getting Osobor to join is by far his biggest win, but he can also be considered the final piece of what has become an impressive roster from top to bottom for the first year head coach.

Washington basketball to host reigining Patriot League Player of the Year

The Washington Huskies are looking to add another exciting playmaker to the roster in Braeden Smith, who is originally from Seattle.

Coach Danny Sprinkle has done an impressive job in the transfer portal during his first offseason with the Washington Huskies, and it appears he isn’t done yet.

According to CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein, Sprinkle’s coaching staff is gearing up to host Colgate University’s Braeden Smith, the 2023-24 Patriot League Player of the Year, on an official visit. Smith, a product of Seattle Prep High School, wasn’t highly recruited as part of the 2022 class.

He held offers from UC Davis, Portland, and Colgate to play basketball, and football offers from Air Force and Eastern Washington, but quickly turned into a star with the Raiders.

He started all 70 games during his two years at Colgate, averaging 12 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5 assists per contest. The 6-foot, 180-pound guard would be an intriguing addition to the roster who can contribute all over the floor, as he averaged 1.6 steals per game with the Raiders and is a 33 percent three-point shooter in his career.

Smith’s addition would also allow for some more flexibility on the roster, as he could push Rhode Island transfer Luis Kortright to the wing to better utilize his 6-foot-5 frame. The Huskies aren’t alone in trying to secure a commitment from Smith, as he’s also set plans to take official visits to Gonzaga and California before making his decision.