Cougars Basketball Roster Rundown: Tomas Thrastarson
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1080"]
Washington State guard Tomas Thrastarson takes a jump shot during a game against the Georgetown Hoyas. Credit: Washington State Men’s Basketball/Instagram [/caption]
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 14 players who are expected to suit up for the Cougars in 2025-26.
In part three of the series, Tomas Thrastarson will look to take a bigger role this upcoming season and build off of a solid freshman campaign that ended with All-WCC Freshman Team honors.
Tomas Thrastarson, Guard, Sophmore
One of only five returners for the Washington State men’s basketball team, Thrastarson will be back for his sophomore season and ready to build on a promising freshman campaign. The Icelandic native played a key role for the Cougars last year, both as a starter and off the bench during the course of the season, providing steady contributions on both ends of the floor.
Thrastarson came to the Cougs as a highly regarded recruit after achieving success playing for Iceland in the U20 Eurobasket championships, where he averaged 16.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game.
Tomas Thrastarson with another spark off the bench for Wazzu. Cougs shooting 50% and will be in bonus the rest of the way.#GoCougs | 📺ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/UuWyakgu3n— Washington State Men's Basketball (@WSUCougarsMBB) January 31, 2025
2024-2025 Season in Review
While the Cougars struggled defensively last season, Thrastarson stood out as one of the more reliable defenders on the team. He ranked in the middle of the pack in both defensive rating and defensive box plus-minus. With his physical strength, he was able to hold his own defensively, though improving his foot speed will be crucial for his development on that end in future seasons.
Offensively, Thrastarson showed real promise. He shot an efficient 57 percent from the field and 41.4 percent from three-point range across 31 games, including 11 starts. His offensive rating ranked fourth on the team, a testament to his efficiency and shot selection. In just 20.7 minutes per game, he made a significant impact, showing his ability to penetrate, finish at the rim, and knock down open threes.
Thrastarson elevated his game even further during WCC conference play. His minutes increased to 24.9 per game, and he responded with even better shooting at 57.9 percent from the field and a scorching 47.4 percent from beyond the arc. He averaged 5.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game in league play, continuing to show his value as a role player with upside. Thrastarson was named to the WCC All-Freshman team as a result.
Overall, his best game during his freshman campaign came when Washington State defeated Loyola Marymount 73-59. He contributed 17 points, along with six rebounds, and went 4-5 from three point range.
When speaking about Thrastarson, Cougars coach David Riley said, “He’s just a mature kid and he’s starting to show more of what he can do.”
Future Outlook
Looking ahead to next season, Thrastarson is expected to push for a starting role and more consistent minutes for the Cougars despite offseason additions to the roster. For him to take the next step, he’ll need to round out his offensive game by adding a more consistent pull-up jumper, improving his ability to score off the dribble, and becoming more effective at the free-throw line, as he shot just 55.4 percent from the charity stripe last season.
Making the adjustment to college basketball from playing overseas can be a challenge, but Thrastarson handled it well as a true freshman. With his efficient shooting, solid defense, and strong basketball IQ, he had a quality first year on the Palouse. Even with the additions in the transfer portal, you can still expect Thrastarson to be in the conversation to start when November roles around. Look for him to take another step forward as a sophomore and become a more versatile and consistent contributor for Washington State.
