Last year was a rough introduction to the Big Ten for Washington basketball. This year, they have the talent to make some noise in conference play.
The tradition continues! It’s another year of our countdown of the top 100 preseason teams in college basketball until the start of the season. Each day, we will reveal the next team until we reach the team slotted at number one. Up next: Washington basketball.
Washington’s debut in the Big Ten was less than stellar. They went 4-16 in conference play, finishing last in the Big Ten and not qualifying for the Big Ten tournament. Highly touted transfer Great Osobor was good, but didn’t live up to expectations, and they dropped seven of their last eight games.
Washington basketball doesn’t want a repeat of last year, and bumped up their NIL bill, going hard in the portal and picking up several elite players. That includes two transfers from USC, who, as a team, weren’t great, but individually had great seasons. They also add Quimari Peterson and Jacob Ognacevic.
Both guys won conference player of the year awards last year, with Peterson winning at ETSU and Ognacevic at Lipscomb. Unfortunately, Ognacevic suffered a foot injury in the preseason and will be out for three months.
They’re hoping that Hannes Steinbach, the talented German recruit and Mady Traore, the #3 JUCO player, will step up in his absence.
On paper, this is a really talented team, and clearly a step up from last year’s team. Let’s see if that translates on the court this year.
Head coach: Danny Sprinkle (2nd season at Washington, 7th season overall)
2024-25 record: 13-18 (4-16)
2025 postseason finish: No postseason
Notable departures:
- Great Osobor (14.8 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 3.4 APG)
- Tyler Harris (11.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 0.4 APG)
- Mekhi Mason (9.9 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 1.4 APG)
- DJ Davis (8.7 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 1.0 APG)
Notable non-conference games:
- at Baylor (Nov. 9)
- at Washington State (Nov. 14)
- vs. Nevada (Nov 27) – Acrisure Classic
- vs. Colorado OR San Francisco (Nov 28) – Acrisure Classic
- vs. Utah (Dec. 29)
Projected Rotation
PG: Quimari Peterson (6-1, Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 19.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 3.7 APG, 2.0 SPG, 46.8 FG%, 42.2 3P%, 73.3 FT% (ETSU)
SG: Wesley Yates III (6-4, So.)
2024-25 stats: 14.1 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.2 SPG, 47.8 FG%, 43.9 3P%, 79.8 FT% (USC)
SF: Desmond Claude (6-6, Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 15.8 PPG, 4.2 APG, 3.5 RPG, 48.2 FG%, 30.7 3P%, 76.4 FT% (USC)
PF: Jacob Ognacevic (6-8, Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 20.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 1.4 APG, 57.5 FG%, 40.2 3P%, 80.0 FT% (Lipscomb)
* Out for three months
C: Franck Kepnang (6-11, Gr.-Sr)
2024-25 stats: 6.9 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 0.0 APG, 1.9 BPG, 53.3 FG%, 80.0 FT%
6: Zoom Diallo (6-4, So.)
2024-25 stats: 11.1 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 2.7 APG, 47.3 FG%, 71.9 FT%
7: Hannes Steinbach (6-11, Fr.)
Averaged 9.1 PPG and 6.9 RPG in 41 games in the BBL during the 2024-25 season
8: Lathan Sommerville (6-10, So.)
2024-25 stats: 8.2 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 0.6 APG, 50.6 FG%, 86.3 FT% (Rutgers)
9: Mady Traore (6-11, Jr.)
Ranked the No. 3 JUCO prospect in the nation by 247Sports
10: Bryson Tucker (6-7, So.)
2024-25 stats: 5.4 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 0.6 APG, 37.8 FG%, 72.2 FT% (Indiana)
Washington Basketball team MVP: Wesley Yates III
Yates was terrific his freshman year, averaging 14.1 PPG, and did so on great splits, shooting 48-44-80. He was solid on the defensive end as well, averaging over a steal a game. He stepped up in the big moments, scoring 30 against Purdue on the road and 24 in the first round of the conference tournament to keep them alive.
Remember, he was doing that all as a freshman. With a year under his belt, he should be even better, especially being next to his running mate, Desmond Claude. Yates has the potential to be one of the best players in the conference, and with the talent around him, he won’t be the focal point of defenses, which should allow him to operate at a high level all season long.
Washington Basketball make-or-break player: Hannes Steinbach
With Ognacevic being out till 2026 most likely, someone will need to step up at the four, and Steinbach seems like the perfect candidate. Steinbach had a big offseason, averaging 17.4 PPG, 13.0 RPG, and 1.3 blocks per game at the World Cup this year, leading his team to a silver medal. As the stat shows, he’s got an eye for the backboard, using his 6-11 frame to his advantage to help his team win the rebound battle.
He doesn’t need to average 17 and 13, although if he does, we’ll be having a very different conversation about this team. If he can not only hold his own but be a high-level rebounder and three-level scorer, then he’ll be a big boost, especially while Ognacevic is out. There’s been a bit of draft hype around him, and that will only grow if he continues to show off his potential.
Key analytic: Opponent shooting percentage
Washington finished 309th in the country, third worst for any power five team. The only two teams worse were Iowa and Miami, which isn’t much of a compliment. That’s going to have to change this year, and with the size of this team, it should be improved, especially near the rim.
The Big Ten is filled with talented rosters, and Washington basketball wants a chance to make the Big Ten tournament and potentially the NCAA tournament. They have the offensive tools, so Danny Sprinkle will have to implement a system to maximize this team’s athleticism and not play in a shootout every game.
Washington Basketball 2025-26 projections
Projected conference finish: 11th in the Big Ten
Projected postseason ceiling: NCAA Tournament Elite 8 Exit
[…] finishing last place in the Big Ten last year, Washington was voted 11th in the Big Ten in the preseason poll. The analytical models felt the same, having […]