Head coach Kyle Smith and WSU men’s basketball recruited three more players this week to join the Cougar program next year.

Something about Pullman seems to attract international stars, and Rueben Chinyelu will look to be the next to make the move from Africa to the Palouse. Like former Coug Efe Abogidi, Chinyelu is a graduate of the NBA Academy Africa system. 

Standing at 6-foot-11, the forward/center was sought after by a number of schools with a final five of Tennessee, Florida, Rutgers, WSU and Santa Clara. 

He will be yet another in a long line of Coug bigs out of Africa, joining Adrame Diongue, Mouhamed Gueye and the aforementioned Abogidi in just the last few years. 

Also international but from a different region comes another future Coug, Oscar Cluff. A 6-foot-10 power forward, Cluff comes from Sunshine Coast, Australia. He is transferring from Cochise College, a junior college in Arizona. 

Last season he led the National Junior College Athletic Association with 75% shooting from the field, averaging 12.5 points and 10.8 rebounds. Older fans may be reminded of Aron Baynes, also a 6-foot-10 big out of Australia, who played for the Cougs in the late 2000s.

Finally, a little closer to home, the Cougs signed Parker Gerrits. A 6-foot-2 guard out of Olympia. He led Olympia High School to several postseason wins as he averaged 19 points per game. 

Younger than either of the other signings, he will likely take time before he is a major contributor. His point guard skills will fill a role of great need in Pullman, whether he contributes his freshman year or a little later.