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.
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.
Jerone Morton Departs as Cougars Continue to Lose Talent to Transfer Portal
The transfer portal has struck again for Washington State, as the Cougars have now lost two of the four remaining players from the 2025-2026 season.
According to 247Sports, both Jerone Morton and Brunel Madzou have entered the transfer portal, leaving the Cougars with only one scholarship player - Dominik Robinson - still on the roster from last year’s team.
Washington State Names Jon Harrlow as Permanent Athletic Director, Removes Interim Label
Washington State University athletics has officially named Jon Haarlow as its full-time athletic director, promoting him after he served in the interim role since November.
Haarlow stepped in as interim AD following the dismissal of former athletic director Anne McCoy. Prior to that, he had been serving as the university’s senior associate athletic director and chief financial officer since 2021, where he built a reputation for strong financial leadership and strategic planning.
Cougars Leading Scorer Ace Glass Enters Transfer Portal as Roster Shakeup Continues
The biggest domino of the offseason has fallen for coach David Riley and the Washington State Cougars, as WCC All-Freshman Team selection and Second Team All-West Coast Conference guard Ace Glass has announced his intention to enter the transfer portal.
The Rancho Cucamonga, California native was a breakout star this past season, averaging 16.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. Glass shot an efficient 45.5% from the field, 36.4% from three-point range, and 88.2% from the free-throw line. He quickly established himself as one of the most dynamic and reliable scorers in the conference, emerging as a centerpiece of the Cougars’ offense.
Known for his ability to score in bunches, Glass brought a skill set that was largely unmatched on the roster — the ability to consistently create his own shot. He was equally comfortable scoring off the dribble or catching and firing, making him a constant threat in both half-court sets and transition.
Transfer Portal Strikes Again as Cougars Lose Two More Starters
The transfer portal has bit the Washington State Cougars yet again, as ND Okafor and Rihards Vavers have both entered their names. With two more departures, as of this publication, Ace Glass, Jerone Morton, Dominik Robinson, and Brunel Madzou are the only scholarship players remaining from last year’s roster.
Only two weeks after initially refuting an earlier report that he planned to go elsewhere, Vavers entered the transfer portal after developing into one of the Cougars’ top perimeter threats. After starting his career at Quinnipiac, the Latvian native became known primarily as a sharpshooter during his time in Pullman. Vavers took a significant step forward from year one to year two, showing improvement in his ability to attack off the dribble while also flashing growth defensively.
Tomas Thrastarson, Parker Gerrits Enter Portal as Cougars’ Roster Shakeup Continues
The Washington State Cougars men's basketball lost two more names to the transfer portal, as Tomas Thrastarson and Parker Gerrits have announced their decision to enter and pursue a new school for 2026-27.
Thrastarson, a Thorlákshöfn, Iceland native, appeared in 19 games this past season after missing roughly a month and a half due to an ankle injury. He averaged 8.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game while shooting 43.9% from the field, 28.8% from three-point range, and 73.8% from the free-throw line.
Gerrits originally joined Washington State as a walk-on before eventually earning a scholarship. Known as a strong defender on a team that struggled at times on that end of the floor, he played a limited role during his time in Pullman.
Transfer Portal Strikes Early for Washington State Cougars
Even though the college basketball transfer portal doesn’t officially open until April 7 and the NCAA Tournament still has a ways to go before crowning a new champion, a couple of Washington State Cougars have already announced their intentions to explore other opportunities and depart Pullman.
With the portal closing on April 21, it remains unclear how the rest of the roster will shake out heading into next season, but it’s possible other Cougars could decide to at least test the waters before the portal opens next month.
Which Former Cougars Will Be Starring in March Madness?
With Washington State missing the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row, it’s a good time to look around the bracket and see some familiar faces. A handful of former Cougars will be playing in March, and few of them have taken big steps since leaving Pullman.
Ruben Chinyelu
Chinyelu has developed rapidly since leaving Pullman after 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.
Cougs in the NBA: How Have Washington State Alumni Played in 2025-26 Season?
With the Washington State basketball season now officially over after an early one-and-done exit in the WCC Tournament, it’s a good time to check in on several former Cougars who are currently playing in the NBA.
Here’s a look at how five former Cougs are performing in the Association or G-League:
Klay Thompson
Years in Pullman: 2008–2011
Thompson has a strong case as the most famous Washington State alumnus. The five-time NBA All-Star and four-time NBA champion has been in the league since the 2011–12 season.
Now 35 years old and playing for the Dallas Mavericks, Thompson is experiencing one of the toughest seasons of his career. For the first time since his rookie year, he has primarily been coming off the bench.
Inside The Numbers: Why Cougars Faltered to Disappointing 12-20 Season
The Washington State Cougars’ 2025-26 season came to an ugly end Friday night with a 74-68 loss to the Portland Pilots in Las Vegas, finishing the year at 12–20 overall and going one-and-done in the WCC Tournament.
The Cougars had won the first two matchups against the Pilots earlier in the year, but were unable to complete the season sweep when it mattered most. The loss capped off what was ultimately a disappointing campaign for Washington State, which followed a familiar pattern from the previous season: a promising start that slowly unraveled during the second half of the year.
Down the stretch, the Cougars struggled mightily. They finished just 4–11 in their final 15 games and went only 1–8 in there last nine in WCC play. It was the program’s first sub-.500 finish since the final season under former head coach Ernie Kent, when Washington State went 11–21 overall in 2018-19.
WSU Men’s Basketball Eliminated By Portland in WCC Second Round
The No. 8-seeded Washington State Cougars men’s basketball team went one-and-done in the West Coast Conference Tournament following a 74-68 loss to No. 9 Portland in the second round on Friday, March 6, at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
Following a first-round bye, the Cougars appeared to lack confidence on offense in a season-ending defeat against a frisky Pilots group. Portland took away WSU’s 3-point bread and butter, and the Cougars looked lost offensively.
WCC Bracket Announced: Cougars Will Play Friday vs. Pepperdine or Portland
The West Coast Conference men’s basketball tournament bracket has been released with the Washington State Cougars holding the No. 8 seed and awaiting a second-round game against either the Portland Pilots or the Pepperdine Waves.
Pepperdine has beaten Portland twice in the regular season and will aim to complete the season sweep for a shot at a second round rematch against Washington State. As the old saying goes, it’s hard to beat a team three times in a row, which will be tested both in the opening round game as well as the second round game if the Cougars face the Pilots.
Regardless, the Cougars will play Friday night against a team they have already beaten with a chance to extend their season.
Cougars Capsized by Waves, Lose 88-79 in Malibu
Closing out what has been a frustrating and disappointing regular season, the Washington State Cougars couldn’t overcome a poor start and dropped their finale in an 88–79 loss to Pepperdine in Malibu.
Despite the final score appearing somewhat competitive, the game was far more lopsided than the final score suggests, as Washington State used a garbage time run to make the end tally seem closer than it really was. The Cougars trailed by as many as 20 points with 8:30 remaining in the second half and were still down 16, 74–58, with just five minutes to play before a late run narrowed the gap.
With the loss, Washington State falls to 12–19 overall and 7–11 in West Coast Conference play, finishing eighth in the conference standings. In a year full of bad losses, this latest setback may be arguably the team’s most disappointing of the season, coming against a Pepperdine squad that entered the matchup in last place in the WCC. Even more concerning is the Cougars’ continued inability to win away from home. Washington State finished the regular season with just one Division I road victory outside the state of Washington.
Washington State Blows Another Halftime Lead in Embarrassing 67-66 Loss to LMU
Continuing to excel at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, the Washington State Cougars suffered yet another brutal loss on Wednesday night, falling 67-66 to Loyola Marymount after blowing a 15-point halftime lead. It was a loss that felt all too familiar for a team that has struggled to put together a full 40-minute game this season.
Washington State looked to be in complete control early. The Cougars stormed into halftime with a commanding 39-24 advantage, getting whatever they wanted on offense for the most part and forcing LMU to take contested two-point jump shots away from the basket.
But as has been the case too frequently this season, the second half was a different game for all of the worst reasons as a double-digit lead evaporated and the Lions came roaring back to steal the win. Wednesday night adds to a growing list of games in which Washington State has surrendered sizable second-half leads, as the Cougars have now lost games while being up 12,17, and 15 points in the final 20 minutes this year.
Washington State Fizzles in Second Half, Saint Mary’s Pulls Away for 83-67 Win
The Washington State Cougars hung with Saint Mary's for nearly 27 minutes on Saturday night, but a cold half from beyond the arc and a lack of stops down the stretch allowed the favored Gaels to pull away for an 83–67 victory in Pullman.
For much of the game, the Cougars showed they were capable of competing with one of the top teams in the West Coast Conference. However, they needed to play at their best for 40 minutes and once Saint Mary’s started to pull away, Washington State wasn’t able to make another run to get back in it in the closing minutes.
Washington State shot the ball from three-point range really well in the first half, going 7-12 from downtown, sending coach David Riley’s team into the break trailing 40-39.
Washington State Gets Blown Out By Gonzaga, Loses 83-53 in WCC Rematch
In a game that was never truly competitive, the Washington State Cougars landed on the wrong side of an ugly blowout to the Gonzaga Bulldogs, losing 83-53 on the road.
Coming into the matchup, it was clear the underdog Cougars would need to play a complete 40 minutes to have a chance against the Bulldogs on the road. Instead, it turned into one of their worst performances of the season against the wrong opponent.
From the opening tip, Gonzaga controlled the tempo and exposed Washington State on both ends of the floor. Offensively, the Cougars struggled to find any rhythm. Their shooting was poor, and didn’t generate many high quality shots. Several early turnovers led directly to Gonzaga baskets, allowing the Bulldogs to build momentum quickly.
Washington State Seeking Season-Changing Upset at Gonzaga
After coming up short against Santa Clara on Saturday, the Washington State Cougars will travel to the McCarthy Center on Tuesday night to face the Gonzaga Bulldogs for an 8 PM PT showdown in Spokane.
Known as the “New Kennel,” the Cougars will walk into one of the toughest environments in college basketball against a Gonzaga team that has been anything but predictable lately.
Since losing Braden Huff to a knee injury in January, Gonzaga’s season has taken an interesting turn. The Bulldogs followed a quality win over Saint Mary’s with a shocking road loss to Portland, then bounced back by beating Oregon State in Corvallis. While Gonzaga is still searching for lineup consistency without Huff, one thing has remained constant: Graham Ike has been absolutely dominant.
Washington State Loses to Santa Clara, Dips Back Below .500 Mark in WCC
Unable to keep its winning streak intact, Washington State fell 96–92 to first-place Santa Clara on Saturday in a frustrating loss that summed up the Cougars’ inconsistent season. When the offense is clicking, the defense struggles, and when the defense tightens up, the offense disappears.
Unfortunately for Washington State, that imbalance showed up once again against the Broncos, dropping the Cougars to 11–15 overall and 6–7 in WCC play, tying them for fifth place in the conference standings.
Offensively, Washington State did plenty of things well on Saturday. The Cougars have now scored over 90 points in back-to-back home games, including a 100-plus point performance against Portland on January 31. Against Santa Clara, they shot the ball efficiently and with confidence, especially from beyond the arc. Washington State connected on 13 of 25 three-point attempts, a strong 52%, keeping them within striking distance throughout the game.
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