Advertisement - scroll for more content
After reports have surfaced that Washington State star big man Mouhamed Gueye intends to stay in the NBA Draft, WSU sources have referred to it as "99 percent certainty." According to a source, the decision isn't quite at the finish line, but is close to being final. Gueye has received enough solid feedback through the NBA Draft Combine process to feel comfortable about a future in the league. Mock drafts have Gueye being taken in the second round of June 22nd's draft.
Former Huskies star Jaden McDaniels pairs with his brother Jalen on The Sonics team that also includes UW newcomers PJ Fuller and Langston Wilson. A trio of former Huskies — Dejounte Murray, Marquese Chriss and David Crisp — lead a Real Ballers team along with former WSU star Robert Franks. Chicago Bulls star Zach Lavine leads the PNW Rain squad while former UW standout Tony Wroten Jr. headlines a Ball is Life team.
Taylor Eldridge: I'm told by sources that Tyson Etienne is withdrawing from the NBA Draft process and returning to Wichita State for the 2021-22 season. Etienne was the Co-Player of the Year in the American last season. His return makes WSU a contender.
Washington State University and U.S. youth national team attacker Trinity Rodman has been attracting the attention of scouts for a long time. During her time with So Cal Blues, Rodman was a dominant player on one of the most dominant youth club teams in the country, pegged by some outlets as the number one forward recruit in the U.S. But early on, there was one notable talent evaluator who saw something special in Rodman. At age eight, after an AYSO game, she was approached by LA Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, who had been there to watch his daughter Natalia.
Advertisement
WSU Athletic Director Pat Chun announced on his twitter late Friday night that the Cougars will retire Klay Thompson's number. Thompson becomes the second WSU basketball player ever to have their number retired. Steve Puidokas was the first. Puidokas wore #55, while Klay wore #1.
Sources told CF.C Elleby had planned his move during the regular season and his decision unrelated to the Cougars’ coaching change. By not hiring an agent, Elleby is eligible to return to WSU in 2019 for his sophomore season.
Just going to say this and get out of the way: The stories about Klay Thompson’s three years at Washington State are as delightful and on-brand — for both Thompson and the Cougars — as you could hope. But first WSU had to get Thompson to Pullman. Ben Johnson, assistant coach: I called Tony Bennett in the middle of the night. He was in Australia recruiting Aron Baynes and Brock Motum. I woke Tony up and just said, “Listen, call Mychal Thompson and get the ball rolling on this thing.” Tony was able to do that, and Klay came up on a visit. Klay is not a man of many words. … He literally said three words the entire visit.
Wright State junior guard Mark Alstork has declared for the NBA Draft, but the Thurgood Marshall graduate is not hiring an agent in order to retain his NCAA eligibility for the 2017-18 season. “We are very supportive of Mark and his desire to play at the next level,” WSU head coach Scott Nagy said. “Part of that process is helping Mark learn what he needs to improve. I know he’s anxious to see how he fits in, and we want to help him be the best he can be.”
NBA owners and executives have always walked a tightrope in selling a mostly black league to white America. But the events of the mid-2000s created a perfect storm that threatened the association. “Among the many factors, there were two that help us understand ‘why then?’,” Dr. David J. Leonard, professor of critical culture, gender and race studies at Washington State University and author of After Artest: The NBA and the Assault on Blackness told UPROXX. “First, the retirement of Michael Jordan created a racial vacuum in the league. The NBA, and its media partners had successfully created a narrative and image around Jordan as both the face of the league and the embodiment of post-raciality. His retirement left the league without a player who embodying these colorblind narratives. Second, the rise of hip-hop. The NBA wanted to take advantage of the cultural and economic popularity of hip-hop. Over several years, they sought to manage and control this relationship, so that they could simultaneously profit off hip hop while not alienating white fans.”
Advertisement
Washington State basketball star DeAngelo Casto, in a brief statement on his Twitter account, said he will turn pro in Turkey next season. Casto passed up his senior season at WSU after averaging 12 points (third on the Cougars) and a team-leading 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocked shots per game last season. Casto had a series of workouts with NBA teams prior to last month's draft, and had some observers thinking he might sneak into the tail end of the second round.
David Locke: Conclusion around the league the two names that helped themselves the most this week were Klay Thompson, WSU and Nikola Vucevic , USC
Spirou Basket officially announced today, April the 20th, the signing of swingman Kyle Weaver for the remainder of the season. Weaver, who played his college ball at Washington State University and was drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats in 2008, logged 68 games in the NBA between the 2008-2009 and the 2009-2010 seasons for the Oklahoma City Thunder, averaging about 19 minutes-per-game.
Washington State junior forward DeAngelo Casto has decided to forgo his senior season and will declare for the NBA draft. Washington State coach Ken Bone made the announcement late Friday afternoon.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement