> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Cougars Basketball Roster Rundown: Parker Gerrits - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/washington-state-basketball-roster-rundown-parker-gerrits/ - Published: 2025-06-13T15:51:23.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T06:19:58.000Z - Author: Jacob Stevenson - Tags: Analysis, Washington State Men's Basketball, Parker Gerrits, David Riley, Kyle Smith, Jerone Morton, Cougars This summer, Emerald City Spectrum will be taking a look at the Washington State men's basketball roster leading up to a new season, breaking down all 13 players who are expected to suit up for the Cougars in 2025-26. Kicking off the series, former Olympia standout Parker Gerrits will look to take a significant step forward after seeing limited action as a reserve point guard last season. ### Parker Gerrits, Guard, Redshirt Sophomore The 6-1, 190 pound Gerrits stayed in state going from Olympia to Pullman as the latest in a long line of Cougs in his family. He had a fantastic high school career starring in the state capital, scoring 19.3 points per game and leading his team to the 4A state championship game. During his senior year, he was named to SI’s 4A All State team and named to the state tournament team as well. When he originally committed to WSU, Gerrits turned down scholarship offers from Vermont and Eastern Washington among other schools. The only recruit from the Kyle Smith era left, he played in limited minutes last year and will be looking to earn a more consistent role in year 3. When Gerrits commitment to Washington State was announced, Smith called him “a hard nosed point guard who can play on or off the ball.” He originally came to Pullman as a walk-on, eventually earning a scholarship. A solid defender, he started getting minutes in the middle of the season last winter due to the injuriesto guards Marcus Wilson and Isaiah Watts. **2024-2025 Season in Review** In 9.3 minutes a game last season, Gerrits contributed 1.5 points, 1.0 rebounds and 0.9 assists, shooting 37.5 percent from the field to go along with 30 percent from three and 42.9 percent from the free throw line on limited attempts. He had his best offensive game as a Coug in a 76-68 win against Northern Iowa, totaling six points, two assists, and two steals while going 3-4 from the field. > Parker Gerrits hits his second triple of the half! Calmese scopes the freshman from midcourt and Gerrits has six early points.[#GoCougs](https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoCougs?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) | ESPN+ [pic.twitter.com/2aqUr2jvTf](https://t.co/2aqUr2jvTf?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com)— Washington State Men's Basketball (@WSUCougarsMBB) [March 2, 2025](https://twitter.com/WSUCougarsMBB/status/1896044111129428395?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) For a team that struggled defensively last season - Washington State ranked [198th](https://kenpom.com/?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) in the country according to Kenpom - Gerrits was a bright spot for the Cougs, ranking third on the team in defensive box plus minus. His defense was particularly good in conference play, ranking second on the team in conference defensive rating. Capable of handling the ball on offense while also creating his own shot as a catch-and-shoot shooting guard, Gettis shot the ball better down the stretch, shooting 37.5 percent from three-point range from December on. **Areas of Improvement** Gerrits needs to improve his foot speed on defense. Getting quicker would help him get more minutes this upcoming season. If he can achieve that goal, then he would give coach David Riley and his staff another option to throw at primary ball handlers as a defender. Last year, he made most of his impact in rotations as a help defender, but if he could expand his defensive versatility and guard point guards more, that would be a major plus for Washington State. Gerrits also needs to be more secure with the ball in his hands. Ranking last in turnover rate on the team last year, cutting down on those self-inflicted mistakes would be huge for him and create a pathway to earning more minutes. Being able to drive more and getting to the rim would open things up for his jump shot as well. **Future Outlook** With new faces on the Cougar roster, Gerrits has a chance to expand his role and earn more minutes off the bench. If he can improve his quickness as a defender and cut down on the turnovers that plagued him last year, he should be able to carve out minutes as a backup guard due to his ability to make open shots, handle the ball, and be in the right spot on defense. If Gerrits doesn’t take a jump on either side of the ball, however, it will be hard for him to find consistent minutes next season. With the additions of more defensive oriented players through the transfer portal such as Jerone Morton, you can expect to see a better defensive squad this season, and he will have to play much better in that aspect to see more time on the court moving forward.