Cougars Sign Ex-Oregon Guard Jamari Phillips, Boost Backcourt via Portal
Jamari Phillips, a guard who spent the last two seasons with the Oregon Ducks, has committed to the Washington State Cougars, becoming another intriguing transfer portal addition in what has been a busy offseason for coach David Riley’s program.
Over his two-year stint with the Ducks, Phillips averaged 2.7 points, 0.9 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game. His efficiency was a clear concern, as he shot just 29.8% from the field and 28.9% from three-point range. Those struggles carried over into advanced metrics as well - Phillips ranked near the bottom of Oregon’s roster in box plus-minus, finishing 13th out of 15 players last season and 15th out of 16 during his freshman year. Simply put, his production did not match the expectations that came with his recruiting profile.
But while Phillips’ raw numbers at Oregon don’t immediately stand out and he didn’t meet expectations in Eugene, his background and potential make him a noteworthy pickup for Riley and his staff.
Welcome to Washington State @iluvjamari
Jamari joins the Cougs as an incoming junior transfer after two seasons at Oregon. The 6-4 California kid has serious range and played 40 games for the Ducks after being named the top Arizona prospect and a 4-star recruit out of Dream… pic.twitter.com/CJ81JZZnTU— Washington State Men's Basketball (@WSUCougarsMBB) April 28, 2026
Phillips fits a growing trend within Washington State’s roster construction. The Cougars have targeted former high-level recruits from major programs who are seeking increased playing time and a fresh start. Phillips, once a top-70 recruit in his class, certainly fits that mold.
Coming out of high school, Phillips originally committed to Arizona and held offers from several high-profile programs including Arizona State, Kansas, and UCLA. His pedigree suggests that there is still plenty of untapped potential, even if it has yet to translate consistently at the college level to this point.
According to 247Sports scouting director Adam Finkelstein, Phillips was once regarded as “one of the more naturally talented and versatile guards in his class” entering his senior year of high school. That evaluation still offers some optimism about what he could become in a different system and with more consistent minutes. Based on limited college film, Phillips has shown flashes of having deep shooting range, particularly off the catch, which could be valuable if he finds more rhythm offensively.
Phillips ultimately profiles as a low-risk, high-upside addition. Similar to new teammates such as Jaylen Harrell and RJ Jones who recently committed to the Coguars, he entered college as a highly touted recruit but saw his development stall due to injuries or limited opportunities. Now seeking a larger role, he could benefit from Riley’s system, which may expand his usage beyond just shooting - especially considering that 76 of his 94 career shot attempts have come from three-point range.
Phillips joins a large group of incoming transfers as Washington State undergoes a significant roster overhaul that has become a common occurrence in the NIL era. Other additions include Tyler Kropp (Northwestern), Landj Dembele (UNLV), Sebastian Akins (Wake Forest), RJ Jones (TCU), Jaylen Harrell (Providence), Ronnie Harrison (East Texas A&M), Fraser Roxburgh (Manhattan), and Lazerek Houston (Central Missouri). This influx of talent reflects both opportunity and necessity, as the Cougars lost nearly all of their minutes from last season.
In addition to the transfers, freshman Breyden Kyman and Eastern Washington transfer Casey Jones - who is returning from a two-year church mission - will also be part of the mix. The only returning players on the roster are Dominik Robinson, who redshirted last season, and walk-on Dio Blakely. With so many new faces, there will be ample opportunity for players like Phillips to carve out a role.
With Washington State essentially rebuilding its roster from the ground up, the door is wide open. If Phillips can improve his efficiency and get into a rythem, he has the potential to outperform his previous production and become a meaningful contributor.
