The Cougs spent the off-season rebuilding a diminished roster, a recurring plot point in these last few years. Now, as the season approaches, get to know each and every member of the team.
Reuben Chinyelu
Chinyelu is a four-star center, the fifth-highest-ranked WSU recruit ever, according to 247sports.com. He is a mobile defender, quick on his feet, but he also maintains the strength necessary to be a good rebounder against other strong centers.
“Big strong long athlete with a big heart,” said head coach Kyle Smith during media day. “He really plays hard.”
Chinyelu has played basketball since 2018 and played at the NBA Academy for a couple of years before committing to play for the Cougs. He will probably start at center for most matchups.
Oscar Cluff
Oscar Cluff is a 6-foot-10 power forward who comes from Sunshine Coast, Australia. He is transferring from Cochise College, a junior college in Arizona, where he was a JUCO All-American.
“A very good low post player, kind of a throwback,” Smith said. “I don’t want to put the Jokic thing on him but he’s a really good passer, good and nimble.”
His size and rare skills will make him an important piece, and he seems to be in the conversation to start at center in some matchups.
Dylan Darling
Darling is going into his sophomore season, having spent most of last year as a backup guard who started a few games when injuries hit the Cougs. While he averaged less than two points per game, he was a clear contributor defensively. Growing on both ends could see him competing for a top reserve spot or even a starting spot at the point guard position.
“Next year specifically, I want to win Pac-12 Most Improved Player,” Darling said last season. “I feel like it’s achievable, with the spring and summer.”
Parker Gerrits
Parker Gerrits is a 6-foot-2 guard who led Olympia High School to several playoff wins as a 19 points-per-game scorer and a distributor last year. He is likely to redshirt.
Kymany Houinsou
Houinsou is a versatile 6-foot-6 guard out of France who has a chance to contribute at both the two and the three. He was one of the first off the bench last year for the Cougs, playing solid defense and scoring almost four PPG.
Andrej Jakimovski
Jakimovski has been here longer than anyone. The senior out of North Macedonia has seen it all with the Cougs, starting as a freshman and remaining a contributor when healthy for his whole WSU career. He was made to play as a big for much of last year, and while he was successful that is not his natural position. Now, he can go back to the three where he belongs
“He’s just a stud. He’s gotten better as far as his attitude and confidence,” Smith said. “Now he does play more small forward… he gives you a presence at the three.”
He will undoubtedly be a starter at the three.
Isaac Jones
After playing most of his collegiate career with Wenatchee Valley College, Jones tranferred just a miles away and played last season with the University of Idaho Vandals. After a succesful year there, Jones transferred to WSU this offseason. He can put the ball in the hoop with the best of them, finishing second in the Big Sky and 36th in the nation last year in scoring.
“Jones would have our best chance to be our leading scorer,” Smith said.
He will be the starter at power forward.
The Korpela Brothers
Twin brothers out of Colorado, Braden and Shae stand 6-foot-7 and play as guards. After redshirting last season, both will play this year. Big guards with scoring ability are very valuable, and now the Cougs have two of them.
AJ LaBeau
A freshman out of Boise, LaBeau stands 6-foot-10 and plays the forward and center positions. Last year at Timberline High School he averaged 7.7 rebounds and 9.9 points. He is a likely redshirt candidate.
Spencer Mahoney
Ranked as a four-star prospect out of Red Rock Academy, Mahoney is a prolific shooter, while also having the size to drive to the rim when need be. At his 6-foot-9 height, he has a chance to be a perfect cog in the Kyle Smith machine of 3-point shooting and generating space. While he is only a freshman, his size and talent should get him into the rotation.
Jabe Mullins
The “Snoqualmie Sniper” is in his senior year and his second as a Coug. A prototypical sharpshooter, the guard stands at 6-foot-6 and shoots 43% from three. His white-hot shooting ability will make him a key player for the Cougs this year just as he was last year, and if his defense continues to improve he could be an absolutely invaluable piece of the puzzle. He is a likely starter at the two.
Ben Oleson
Oleson redshirted for the Cougs in 2019 before transferring to Bellevue College for two years. He returned last year but saw only eight minutes of action. While he may not play much, the team clearly loves him. He is a good locker-room presence, and WSU is lucky to have him back for yet another season.
Myles Rice
Rice redshirted last year due to being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma shortly before the season began. Now, after beating cancer, he is back. Point guards seem to come at a premium for the Cougs, and now that he has resumed his college career he has a good shot to be a top reserve at the position.
AJ Rohosy
A walk-on last season, Rohosy played only three minutes. In those minutes, he recorded a block. Since this time last year, he has grown an inch and gained some weight. Now standing 6-foot-9, he provides depth at the big positions. As last season showed us, there is not much that is more important than that.
Isaiah Watts
Watts is a three-star 6-foot-3 guard from West Seattle High who played a postgraduate season at South Kent School in Connecticut. He was previously committed to Seton Hall, before reopening his recruitment and deciding to come to Pullman. He is very likely to redshirt.
Jaylen Wells
Wells committed after two years at Sonoma State University, a Division II school in the California Collegiate Athletics Association. Wells broke out last year at Sonoma State, averaging more than 22 points per game while grabbing 8.7 boards. Standing at 6-foot-8, Wells is a very prolific scorer and rebounder. While the power forward position is a bit too stacked for him to start, he should be a key bench piece for the Cougs and could see starts when needed.
Joseph Yesufu
Joseph Yesufu is a 6-foot combo guard who last played for Kansas off the bench, winning a national championship with them in 2022. His first few seasons were spent at Drake, where he proved he could be the main scorer on a team.
“He can score, he can lead, he’s been in a winning program,” Smith said. “He’s got a confidence about him.”
Now, Yesufu comes to the Palouse, where he will be the starter at point guard.
The Cougs have rebuilt well. They are deeper at every position than last year, and while there is not yet a clear NBA prospect, the overall strengthening of the team should be able to make up for that. It should be a big year for WSU basketball.
