Cougars Sign Ex-Oregon Guard Jamari Phillips, Boost Backcourt via Portal
Jamari Phillips, a guard who spent the last two seasons with the Oregon Ducks, has committed to the Washington State Cougars, becoming another intriguing transfer portal addition in what has been a busy offseason for coach David Riley’s program.
Over his two-year stint with the Ducks, Phillips averaged 2.7 points, 0.9 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game. His efficiency was a clear concern, as he shot just 29.8% from the field and 28.9% from three-point range. Those struggles carried over into advanced metrics as well - Phillips ranked near the bottom of Oregon’s roster in box plus-minus, finishing 13th out of 15 players last season and 15th out of 16 during his freshman year. Simply put, his production did not match the expectations that came with his recruiting profile.
But while Phillips’ raw numbers at Oregon don’t immediately stand out and he didn’t meet expectations in Eugene, his background and potential make him a noteworthy pickup for Riley and his staff.
Gonzaga Bulldogs Land ASU Transfer Massamba Diop, Bolstering Talented Frontcourt
Bringing in a big fish from the transfer portal, the Gonzaga Bulldogs can cross a big item off their offseason checklist. 7-1 Senegalese center Massamba Diop is on his way to Spokane from Arizona State, picking to play for the Zags over St. John’s for his sophomore season. Diop’s commitment makes the second for GU so far this offseason, joining Houston transfer Isiah Harwell as the newest Zags on the block.
During his first year at the collegiate level, Diop averaged 13.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks a game on 56.9% shooting in 33 starts with the Sun Devils. He was one of the top centers available in this cycle of the transfer portal and – like several of his new teammates – carries notable NBA Draft stock.
The move aligns Diop with the returning Braden Huff to form yet another strong big man duo for the Bulldogs, a season after Huff and third-team All-American Graham Ike were paired up together. Not to mention that the team’s likely starting small forward, 6-7 Davis Fogle, was also retained, giving Gonzaga one of the country’s most talented frontcourts heading into the fall.
Washington State Reels in Ex-Providence G Jaylen Harrell Via Transfer Portal
The Washington State Cougars have added another intriguing talent through the transfer portal with the commitment of wing Jaylen Harrell, a former top-100 recruit who began his career at Providence.
Harrell’s freshman season with the Friars was limited to just six games due to injury, making him somewhat of a difficult transfer portal evaluation. In those appearances, he averaged 3.7 points and 0.7 rebounds in just over nine minutes per game, shooting an efficient 8-for-16 from the field and 3-for-11 from beyond the arc.
Harrell’s addition continues a clear trend in how Washington State, under head coach David Riley, is approaching roster construction. The Cougars have been aggressive in targeting former high-level recruits from power conference programs who are seeking expanded roles and consistent playing time. Harrell fits that mold alongside players like RJ Jones (Kansas State/TCU), Landji Dembele (UNLV/Iowa), Tyler Kropp (Northwestern), and Sebastian Akins (Denver/Wake Forest).
Washington State Lands Ronnie Harrison, Tyler Kropp Out of Transfer Portal
Continuing to restock their roster in the transfer portal, the Washington State Cougars received commitments from East Texas A&M forward Ronnie Harrison from East Texas A&M and Northwestern forward Tyler Kropp.
After completing his freshman season with the Wildcats, Kropp will arrive in Pullman with three years of eligibility remaining. In his lone season at Northwestern, he averaged 3.1 points and 2.1 rebounds while appearing in 31 games and making 10 starts, earning more minutes as the season went along. His most productive performance came in a win over USC, where he posted 11 points and nine rebounds, offering a glimpse of his potential.
With one year of eligibility left, Harrison averaged 14.7 points and 6.1 rebounds last season, leading the Lions in both categories. He also shot 47.% from the field and 29.% from three-point range. In the Southland Conference, he ranked ninth in scoring, 10th in rebounding, and tied for sixth in steals, demonstrating a well-rounded game that should translate well to the new-look Pac-12.
Sebastian Akins Commits to Washington State
The Washington State Cougars have added another player to their roster for the 2026-27 season, signing former Wake Forest guard Sebastian Akins out of the transfer portal. He just completed his sophomore campaign with the Demon Deacons, starting eight games and averaging 5.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game.
Before transferring to Wake Forest, Akins began his career at Denver, where he had an impressive freshman season. He was named Summit League Rookie of the Year after averaging 12.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game.
Washington State Signs Division II Star Lazerek Houston
As coach David Riley continues to rebuild the roster, the Washington State Cougars have landed another transfer from the portal, this time from the Division II ranks with Lazerek Houston coming to Pullman from Central Missouri.
A smaller point guard at 6-0 and 155 pounds, Houston is coming off an outstanding true freshman season. He shot 46.2% from the field, 36.8% from three-point range, and 75.2% from the free-throw line. Overall, he averaged 20.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game, showcasing his ability to impact the game in multiple ways. He was also named the MIAA Player and Freshman of the Year.
Five Frontcourt Players Gonzaga Could Target in Transfer Portal
Presumably, the players who will fill four of the five starting spots for Gonzaga next season are either already on the roster or are on their way to Spokane. In the backcourt, Mario Saint-Supéry and Davis Fogle lead the charge as high-ceiling offensive talents looking to build off of promising freshman campaigns. And in the frontcourt, Braden Huff will return for his final season at the college level, after having an uber-efficient season shortened due to a dislocated knee.
But third-team All-American forward Graham Ike is out of eligibility, and reserve center Ismaila Diagne became one of six Zags to enter the transfer portal. Traditionally, the Zags prefer to play with two post players in the frontcourt, making the potential final piece to their starting lineup and a new running mate with Huff a crucial decision for next season.
Who are some players with chances of being the next Bulldog big?
Massamba Diop, Freshman, Arizona State
The man with the most buzz at the moment, Diop is coming off a strong freshman season with the Sun Devils. Scheduled to visit Spokane this weekend, the 7-1 center entered the transfer portal on April 8 as Arizona State undergoes a coaching change with Randy Bennett – former longtime head coach of Saint Mary’s – taking over at the helm. Diop made the decision with a “do not contact” tag, as Travis Branham of 247Sports.com reported the center had his sights set on either Gonzaga or St. John’s, which Diop is also slated to visit at an unknown date, likely sometime next week.
Huskies Add Gonzaga’s Steele Venters to Men’s Basketball Team as Departures Mount
For now, we’ll assume the University of Washington will field a men’s basketball team for 2026-27.
Who will play on that team remains very much in question. Next season’s roster no longer appears on the Washington Athletics website, but as of Wednesday, we believe the Huskies have seven scholarship players — including two additions from the transfer portal as of Wednesday — on the roster, plus walk-on guard BJ Roy.
College basketball, with reports of well over 2,000 players in the transfer portal, appears to be in chaos. The Huskies are a prime example of roster upheaval.
Smooth Lefty Fraser Roxburgh Commits to Washington State
After losing the vast majority of their players to the transfer portal, the Washington State Cougars landed their first commitment of the offseason, bringing their roster total to five with the addition of Fraser Roxburgh from Manhattan.
Roxburgh, a 6-7, 215-pound forward heralding from Australia, is coming off his sophomore season in which he averaged 11 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game for the Jaspers. He shot 44.7% from the field, 31.6% from three-point range on just over four attempts per game, and 77.5% from the free-throw line.
Cougars Portal Tracker: Who’s Departing, Who’s Arriving in Pullman?
Dealing with the realities of modern college athletics, the Washington State Cougars have seen a mass exodus of players from their 2025-26 roster hitting the transfer portal this spring.
Who will be departing Pullman? And which players will come to town as replacements from the portal? Check out our tracker often, as all scholarship players that announce their intentions to leave Washington State or to join the Cougars will be added in real time.
Huskies to Host Slew of Recruits at Weekend Junior Day Event
Signing day for the high school Class of 2027 remains nine months away, but “Dawghouse Weekend” at the University of Washington on March 7-8 will shape much of Jedd Fisch’s next set of Huskies.
The Junior Day event is expected to be attended by approximately 30 recruits, who will spend the weekend learning all they can about the university, the football program and its coaches. Fisch and his staff put together the highest-ranked class in modern UW football history (13th) for 2026, and several of the blue-chip athletes from that class attended the 2025 event.
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