Huskies Hoops Reloaded: Sprinkle Era Takes Shape

After a season of rebuilding, **Danny Sprinkle** is signaling a new era for Washington basketball. Strategic scheduling and a top-ranked transfer portal haul suggest the program is ready to compete.

Scheduling Shift: From Gonzaga to Baylor

A year ago, **Sprinkle** opted out of playing Gonzaga, citing his program’s rebuilding phase. Now, the Huskies are set to face Baylor in a two-year series, with a trip to Waco this season and the Bears visiting Seattle in 2026-27.

According to **Sprinkle**, “Where our program was when we first got the job, we had just three players. I didn’t think that was the best thing for our program. This year, [the Zags] might have one of the best teams they’ve ever had.”

Transfer Portal Success

Washington’s transfer portal activity is drawing attention. 247Sports ranks the Huskies’ haul No. 13 nationally, while **Jeff Borzello** of ESPN ranks them even higher, at No. 6.

Key additions include former USC players **Wesley Yates III** and **Desmond Claude**, along with **Quimari Peterson**, the SoCon Player of the Year from East Tennessee State, and Atlantic Sun Player of the Year **Jacob Ognacevic** from Lipscomb.

Other newcomers are **Lathan Sommerville** (Rutgers), **Bryson Tucker** (Indiana), and **Christian Nitu** (Florida State). The team’s revamped roster reflects **Sprinkle’s** commitment to quick improvement.

The transfer portal has become an essential tool for college basketball programs looking to rebuild quickly. In 2024, over 1,800 Division I men’s basketball players entered the transfer portal, highlighting the scope of player movement (NCAA.com).

Incoming Talent and Key Returners

In addition to transfers, Washington is adding four-star point guard **JJ Mandaquit**, four-star small forward **Jasir Rancher**, four-star shooting guard **Courtland Muldrew**, and JUCO transfer **Mady Traore**. Returners like **Zoom Diallo** and **Franck Kepnang** further bolster the roster.

International Spotlight: Hannes Steinbach

German big man **Hannes Steinbach** is generating buzz after his performance at the FIBA U19 World Cup.

In a game against Slovenia, he recorded 19 points and 19 rebounds, followed by 16 points and 16 rebounds against Australia.

Hannes Steinbach had another dominant game for Germany in the blowout win over Australia in the FIBA U19 QFs

16 points
16 boards
2 blocks
5-11 FG
6-8 FT

Has been incredibly impactful on all facets of the game, helping Germany secure an undefeated record so far pic.twitter.com/N13skMQMfb

— nbadraftpoint (@nbadraftpoint) July 4, 2025

Hannes Steinbach has looked nothing short of extraordinary at the U19 FIBA World Cup for Germany.

Strong blend of interior scoring, rim protection + rebounding on display game-after-game. This is the makings of a tournament MVP & ‘26 lottery talent. One to watch for next season.

— Mohamed (@mcfNBA) July 4, 2025

Sprinkle’s Track Record

**Sprinkle** has a history of building successful programs. At Montana State, he led the Bobcats to two consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. He then took Utah State to the Big Dance in his first year.

With strategic scheduling and a revamped roster, **Sprinkle** aims to send a clear message: “We’re here.”