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# Ex-Iowa Starter Ladji Dembele Commits to Washington State
- URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/ladji-dembele-washington-state-cougars-transfer-portal/
- Published: 2026-05-04T17:45:27.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-08T05:53:04.000Z
- Author: Jacob Stevenson
- Tags: Recruiting, Cougars Men's Basketball, Ladji Dembele

\[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="6359"\]

![  Iowa Hawkeyes forward Ladji Dembele (13) looks to shoot against Nebraska Cornhuskers forward Juwan Gary (4) and forward Berke Buyuktuncel (9) during the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images  ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/usatsi_25626288-format-original.jpg)

Iowa Hawkeyes forward Ladji Dembele (13) looks to shoot against Nebraska Cornhuskers forward Juwan Gary (4) and forward Berke Buyuktuncel (9) during the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images \[/caption\]

Washington State has made it clear this offseason: the roster rebuild will run through the transfer portal. The latest addition, Ladji Dembele, fits that approach perfectly—a player with Power Five experience who brings both size and a developing skill set to a Cougars roster still taking shape.

> Welcome to Washington State [@ladji\_kalilou](https://twitter.com/ladji%5Fkalilou?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) 🇲🇱  
>  
> A 4-star recruit out of high school, Ladji joins the Cougs by way of UNLV and Iowa. The Mali-born Dembele started 21 games as a sophomore Hawkeye, shooting 47% from the floor and 38% from deep. [#GoCougs](https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoCougs?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) [pic.twitter.com/FSkIIoJxIX](https://t.co/FSkIIoJxIX?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com)— Washington State Men's Basketball (@WSUCougarsMBB) [April 24, 2026](https://twitter.com/WSUCougarsMBB/status/2047727263098306697?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com)

Dembele began his college career at Iowa, where he carved out a consistent role in the frontcourt before transferring to UNLV for his junior season. While his time in Las Vegas was limited to just five games due to injury, he still managed to average 5.2 points and 4.2 rebounds in roughly 20 minutes per game. That small sample size makes it difficult to fully evaluate his impact there, but it does offer a glimpse into a player who remained productive in limited opportunities. Dembele got a medical redshirt from last season and will have two years of eligibility remaining.

At Iowa during the 2024–2025 season, Dembele appeared in a much larger role, starting 21 games and averaging 4.5 points and 3.1 rebounds in 16.7 minutes per game. Those numbers don’t jump off the page, but they reflect a player trusted to contribute in a high-major rotation. One of his more notable performances came in the Big Ten Tournament, where he posted eight points and nine rebounds against Ohio State.

What makes Dembele particularly intriguing for Washington State isn’t just his size—listed at 6-8 and 255 pounds—but how his game may be evolving. During his brief stint at UNLV, he attempted nearly three three-pointers per game, a noticeable increase from his usage at Iowa, where he averaged closer to one attempt per contest. That shift suggests a conscious effort to expand his offensive range, something that could be valuable in Washington State’s system. If the coaching staff leans into that development, Dembele could become an interesting option offensively at center

Roster construction also plays a major role in why Dembele’s addition matters. At the time of his commitment, Washington State’s frontcourt depth was thin, with Dominik Robinson as the only other true center option. That lack of depth should open the door for Dembele to earn immediate and meaningful minutes.

Comparing Dembele to former Washington State big man ND Okafor highlights both Dembele’s strengths and limitations. Okafor, who measured around 6-10 and 250 pounds, made his mark as a rim protector, averaging over a block per game in recent seasons. Dembele, on the other hand, has not shown that same defensive presence, averaging just 0.2 blocks per game in his final season at Iowa. However, what he lacks in shot-blocking, he may compensate for with offensive versatility—particularly if his perimeter shooting continues to develop.

Dembele arrives as part of a large incoming transfer class that includes Tyler Kropp (Northwestern), Ronnie Harrison (East Texas A&M), Sebastian Akins (Wake Forest), Jaylen Harrell (Providence), Fraser Roxburgh (Manhattan), Lazerek Houston (Central Missouri), Jamari Phillips (Oregon) and RJ Jones (TCU). Combined with returners and additions like Casey Jones, Brayden Kyman, Dominik Robinson, and Dio Blakey, the Cougars are building a roster almost entirely from new pieces, but there’s reason for cautioned optimism with the talent being brought to Pullman.