Which Former Cougars Will Be Starring in March Madness?
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Purdue Boilermakers center Oscar Cluff (45) shoots a layup during the first half against the Michigan Wolverines during the men's Big Ten Conference Tournament Championship at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images [/caption]
While the Washington State Cougars missing the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row, it doesn’t take long to look around the bracket and see some familiar faces who once resided in Pullman.
A handful of former Cougars will be dancing in March, and few of them have taken big steps since leaving Wazzu and joining their new programs. Which ex-Cougs will be enjoying the madness this month?
Ruben Chinyelu
Chinyelu has developed rapidly since leaving Pullman following his freshman season. After Kyle Smith departed for Stanford following Washington State’s NCAA Tournament run, Chinyelu moved on and landed at Florida.
Last season, Chinyelu started for the eventual national champion Florida Gators and played a important role in the frontcourt. In his first season in Gainesville, he averaged 6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game while establishing himself as a defensive presence.
This year, his production has taken a major jump. Chenylu is averaging 11.2 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, with his rebounding total leading the SEC. His impact on the defensive end has also stood out, earning him All-SEC honors along with SEC Defensive Player of the Year. The Cougars certainly could have used him in the paint this season.
Oscar Cluff
Now sporting a thick beard and becoming a folk hero of sorts in West Lafayette, Cluff was another member of Washington State’s 2023–24 NCAA Tournament team. During his time in Pullman, he served as a part-time starter and rotational big, averaging 7.0 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.
After Kyle Smith’s departure, Cluff entered the transfer portal and landed at South Dakota State. The move paid off immediately.
Cluff broke out in a major way, averaging 17.6 points and 12.3 rebounds per game while becoming one of the most productive big men in the Summit League. His performance earned him First Team All-Summit League honors and helped elevate his profile heading into March. Cluff jumped back in the portal and landed at Purdue, where he has started every game and has averaged 10.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game for the Big Ten champions.
LeJuan Watts
Watts is the only player on this list who played under head coach David Riley at Washington State. After transferring from Eastern Washington, Watts spent the 2024–25 season in Pullman and quickly became one of the team’s most versatile and important players.
Watts averaged 13.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game, showcasing his ability to impact the game in multiple ways, and looked like a potential focal point for the Riley’s program moving forward.
But following the season, Watts transferred to Texas Tech, where he has carved out a significant role in the Red Raiders’ rotation. He has started most of the season and is averaging 27.5 minutes per game while contributing 11.5 points, 6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists, providing the type of production the Cougs badly could have used this season across the board.
Dylan Darling
The Spokane native began his career at Washington State, but Darling struggled to find playing time early on. After transferring to Idaho State and going across the state line, his career took off.
During the 2024–25 season, Darling averaged 19.8 points and 5.7 assists per game and was named Big Sky Player of the Year, emerging as one of the top guards in the conference for the Vandals. That breakout season led him back into the transfer portal, where he landed with Rick Pitino at St. Johns.
Darling has seen his role grow as the season has gone on for the Red Storm, particularly since February, and he has become a steady contributor for Pitino’s surging squad. He’s averaging 7.0 points per game along with 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists while starting at times this season.
