Washington State Signs Former Top-100 Recruit RJ Jones
Making a somewhat big splash out of the transfer portal, former top-100 recruit RJ Jones has committed to the Washington State Cougars after stops at Kansas State and TCU, hoping a third change of scenery will allow him to finally fulfill his potential.
After being courted by numerous programs as a highly touted recruit out of Wasatch Academy in Denton, Texas, Jones appeared in 28 games as a freshman for the Wildcats during the 2023–24 season before transferring to TCU, where he redshirted for the 2024–25 and appeared in just nine games with the Horned Frogs last season.
Over the course of his college career, Jones has averaged 2.5 points, 0.7 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per game. He has struggled with efficiency, shooting 31.8% from the field and 31.1% from three-point range. After only playing six minutes per game in limited action for TCU a year ago, a larger and more consistent role at Washington State could give him the opportunity to improve upon those numbers and find his rhythm offensively.
Despite the inconsistencies in his game, Jones brings value as a strong, versatile guard who can play both on and off the ball. He also has experience competing in one of the top conferences in college basketball with two different programs, which adds to his upside.
Cougars head coach David Riley and his staff will look to unlock the potential that once made Jones a highly regarded recruit. If they can do that, this could turn into a low-risk, high-reward addition for the Cougars. With a team that lost almost their entire roster from the 2025-2026 season to the portal, there is certainly an opportunity for immediate playing time to make the type of impact many expected from him coming out of the high school level.
Jones becomes the sixth player to be rostered by Washington State for the 2026-27 season, following up recent portal additions of guard Lazerek Houston from Division II Central Missouri and forward Fraser Roxburgh from Manhattan.
