When the first Eastern Washington Eagle committed to WSU, Ethan Price, it was thought that he could be the first of many. Now, two of his teammates have joined him in following new WSU men’s basketball head coach David Riley, LeJuan Watts and Dane Erikstrup. Along with those two, WSU landed a commitment from Idaho’s all-time leading high school scorer, Kase Wynott.
Watts came first, announcing his transfer via social media April 18.
Watts was the Big Sky Newcomer of the Year last season, averaging 9.4 points on 61.2% shooting from the field. A 6-foot-6 forward, Watts scored with elite efficiency while rebounding at a high level, with his 4.9 per game putting him second on his team. He was a 40% 3-point shooter on extremely low volume.
Erikstrup was next, announcing his commitment via social media Tuesday.
The 6-foot-11 center transferred to EWU in 2022 after two seasons at the Division II level. He averaged 10.8 points as a junior, but grabbed only 3.3 rebounds and blocked only .5 shots per contest. A 35% shooter from 3-point range, Erikstrup will likely slot into the same offensive bench role that Riley has already used him in.
Wynott announced his commitment to WSU Sunday.
Wynott was committed to Utah State but withdrew when head coach Danny Sprinkle departed for Washington. WSU beat out UW to land the 6-foot-6 point guard. He averaged 36 points per game in his final high school season for the Wildcats of Lapwai High School in Winchester, Idaho, which sits just over an hour away from Pullman.
Where Wynott will land in the depth chart next season remains to be seen, but his size at a premium position gives him a good chance to contribute within two years if not immediately. He is the first high school commit of David Riley’s WSU tenure.
