College Hoops Top 50

Last Year: 17-17; Fifth (11-9) in the Pac 12 Conference, lost in the first round of the NIT 

Head Coach: Kyle Smith (5th Year; 69-61 at Washington State with no NCAA Tournament appearances)

Projected Starting Lineup

PG Joseph Yesufu – 6’0″, 185 – Senior (5th)

SG Jabe Mullins – 6’6″, 200 – Senior

SF Kymany Houinsou – 6’7″, 205 – Sophomore

PF Andrej Jakimovski – 6’8″, 220 – Senior

C Isaac Jones – 6’9″, 245 – Senior (5th)

Projected Starters’ 2022-23 Stats

Joseph Yesufu: 4.1 ppg 1.2 rpg, 0.4 apg, 0.5 spg – 36.7% FG @ Kansas

Jabe Mullins: 8.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.6 apg, 0.5 spg – 43.0% 3FG

Kymany Houinsou: 3.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.4 apg, 0.4 bpg – 40.7% FG

Andrej Jakimovski: 7.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.1 apg, 0.7 spg – 34.5% 3FG

Isaac Jones: 19.4 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.1 bpg – 62.9% FG @ Idaho

Experienced Reserves

W Jaylen Wells – 6’8″, 205 – Junior

G Dylan Darling – 6’2″, 180 – Sophomore

F/C Oscar Cluff – 6’11”, 255 – Junior

Experienced Reserves’ 2022-23 Stats

Jaylen Wells: 22.4 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.6 spg – 43.8% 3FG @ Sonoma State

Dylan Darling: 1.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.6 apg, 0.5 spg – 25.5% FG

Oscar Cluff: 12.0 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 1.5 apg, 2.7 bpg – 74.8% FG @ Cochise College

Freshmen

There may be no team in America playing this season with a bigger chip on its shoulder than the Washington State Cougars. Or, what remains of them. 

Despite a .500 record last year, head coach Kyle Smith had put together a pretty promising roster through the end of his fourth season in Pullman. And the best part was that, looking ahead, virtually everyone who played a significant role last year still had eligibility to use, if they so chose, to return and make a big run in 2023-24. 

Unfortunately, not everyone chose to come back. First, leading scorer TJ Bamba headed East to play for Villanova. It was ok, though, because veteran forward JD Rodman had announced – on Senior Day, before the Cougs’ season had ended – that he would be coming back to use his ‘Covid Year’ at Wazzu. Except that when May rolled around, Rodman entered the Transfer Portal. And a few days later, he committed to Southern Cal. One of Wazzu’s Pac 12 rivals. 

When Mouhamed Gueye declared that he was staying in the draft, Cougs fans were resigned. It’s hard to turn down the ultimate dream, and Gueye was drafted 39th overall. By the time guard Justin Powwll, thought to be quite likely to returning to the Palouse, announced that he was staying in the draft pool as well, enthusiasm around Washington State’s hoops program was on mat, and the referee had begun to count. 

It felt like everything that could have gone badly for Wazzu, well…had. All of this, the year after three of the Cougs’ top four scorers left with eligibility remaining two offseasons ago, as well. Thing is, when a team is given reason to believe that it’s them against the world, they will often play like that’s the case. Smith and his staff have done an admirable job of stitching together enough talent to remain, they hope, competitive in the face of so much attrition. 

Jabe Mullins and Andrej Jakimovsky return as good shooters with good size; and Smith is going to depend on them to lead the way. Mullins, from Snoqualmie, WA, was a highly-regarded recruit when he arrived in Moraga as a freshman starter for Saint Mary’s. Things didn’t go exactly the way Mullins had hoped as Gael, though, so the big guard decided to head closer to home. Last year, in his first season as a Coug, Mullins established new career highs across the board. There were times, early on, when he virtually carried the offense. During a four-game stretch in the first month of the season, Mullins canned 19 triples at 61%, averaging 17.5 points; a couple of weeks later, he scored 59 points with 15 treys over another four-game stretch. For the final 17 games of the year, though, Mullins scored just 5.4 points per contest and shot only 32% from deep.

If he can recapture something of the form he displayed over the first half of last season, Mullins may be the Cougars’ leading scorer. He’s a good passer, and with the array of head and shot-fakes which Mullins employs on the wing, he knows how and when to find open teammates near the rim when defenders close out. Though not a tremendous defender, Mullins does have length on his side, and uses his reach effectively. With his floor-spacing jumper, Smith needs Mullins to be a primary threat if this team is to rally; and with Wazzu fans looking to him like never before, Mullins is hoping to rewrite the frustrating start to his career with a triumph. 

If he can recapture something of the form he displayed over the first half of last season, Mullins may be the Cougars’ leading scorer

A stretch forward with 45 starts over his first three seasons, Smith is expecting big things from Jakimovski in his fourth year. The North Macedonian shooter has knocked down 84 triples at 36.4% the past two seasons, and last season he posted career-bests in scoring and rebounding. Jakimovski also played the best defense of his career as a junior; and though he’s not an intimidating stopper, the versatility which Jakimovski has increasingly shown on that end should help Smith to mix and match lineups this winter. “He is a stud. He is beloved by his teammates, he loves being a Coug. Just his grittiness, he embodies that, and I think he’s a fan favorite,” Smith said of Jakimovski, talking to CougFan.Com this summer. “He can take on more offensive responsibility just as long as he stays healthy, has a full summer; if he stays healthy he’ll make a nice jump this next season.”

There are a great many new faces this season, and at least a couple of them are going to be counted on to play some of the team’s biggest minutes. Scoring guard Joseph Yesufu comes to the Palouse as something of an urban legend. There was a time, once, when it’s said that Yesufu came off of the bench due to a rash of injuries, and in a faraway land called Des Moines, it’s said that Yesufu went absolutely ham over the months of February and March, averaging 18.6 points and leading his team to both the NCAA Tournament and a win at the Dance. There was also a time when, following that mythical 14-game run, Yesufu transferred to Kansas and mostly appeared as an inconsistent apparition, chucking ill-advised shots.

If the 2021-at-Drake version of Yesufu is the one which Smith has brought to Pullman for his final season of eligibility, it may take a lot of the sting out of those offseason departures. Yesufu is an extreme volume scorer; he needs shots to get rolling and the ball in his hands to feel that he’s in his element. When he gets into a groove, it can be a sight to behold. With a solid and confident handle and a quick first step, Yesufu can get into the lane and create his own looks whenever he would like, and when he draws the defense, Yesufu has proven capable of finding and involving his buddies. And though he gambles, Yesufu can be a strong man defender who turns defense into transition offense. “Joseph is an incredible add to our roster. He brings leadership and experience from one of the best programs in the country,” Smith says of Yesufu. “He brings explosive athleticism to our backcourt to help offset the loss of TJ…Joseph can get in the paint to distribute and score. He should also spearhead our defense at the point of the ball.” There are plenty of expectations for Yesufu ahead of his year as a Coug, and he’s looking to prove some things to his new fans. 

Five Stats Which Tell The Tale (with national ranks)

65.7 Points Per Game Against (45th)

68.4 Points Per Game (232nd)

44.6% – Opponent Shooting Percentage (195th)

42.4% – Team Shooting Percentage (281st)

4.9 – Steals Per Game (328th)

Smith feels like he’s found a prime pick-and-roll partner for Yesufu to work with in Idaho transfer Isaac Jones. While this will be the first year of high major hoops for Jones, he isn’t one of those transfers who has played a small role with his previous teams, and comes wishing for a chance at minutes: Jones has dominated at his prior stops, and is seeking his greatest challenge yet. With the size and strength to play the pivot, Jones can also slide over to operate as a post-up power forward – and no matter the lineup around him, Jones is usually planning to attack the rack. The Spanaway, WA native flushed 63 dunks last season, and made 173 total shots at the rim – shooting 72% up close, per Bart Torvik. He’s an active and aggressive presence on the boards, as well, and posted a double-double 11 times last season; more than a third of Idaho’s games played. “Isaac is the addition we need to become the best version we can be,” Smith said upon Jones committing. “He adds length, skill, and feel to our frontcourt. He can play inside and out, has a great shooting touch, plays unselfish, and is easy to play with.” Jones also has soft hands, and has developed solid footwork in the lane. Wazzu was incredibly reliant on the three point shot last year; the Cougs ranked 357th out of 363 Division I teams in 2FG’s made last year, but 30th in made triples. When Smith says that Jones is the addition up front that Wazzu needs, the coach is not kidding. He will need to show a couple more post moves to keep scoring at such a high rate in the Pac 12, but Jones has the skills to get it done and should be Smith’s top scoring option up front from the first game he plays in a Cougars uniform. 

French wing Kymany Houinsou may get the nod, simply because of his outstanding all-around potential. At 6’7″, Houinsou sees the floor well and can shoot over most perimeter players, but he tries to do everything well. The French wing has shown the ability to score inside and out, crash the boards, and defend all but the largest players. He’s also a clever passer and initiator in the halfcourt, and provides the potential for Smith to go with a super-sized lineup featuring Houinsou as the 2 guard. Given Yesufu’s desire to hunt for good shots, Houinsou may be a great fit on the floor with him as a playmaking wing. His coach has called Houinsou a ‘French Army Knife’, and this season, Smith will put that nickname to the test, utilizing Houinsou as a primary defender and giving the youngster every opportunity to earn more shots on offense, as well. “Kymany could be a guy for us,” Smith told the Seattle Times this summer. “He’s a different kind of player. He played a lot of minutes as a freshman and did some good things. He can make a big step forward.”

The fifth starter’s job will be an interesting toss-up between big and wing, but with the amount of hustle Smith and his staff showed this spring, the Cougs have got a couple of each player to mix and match lineups throughout the season. 

Jaylen Wells had a huge season at the D II level last year, and thinks that the time and place are right Pullman this year to jump straight into a rotation at the highest level. “As a basketball player, Jaylen is a ‘six-tool guy,’” Smith said when Wells signed on as a Coug. “He can play multiple positions. He can dribble, pass, drive, shoot, defend, and rebound. He’s a late bloomer that has a big upside. We’re really excited to have him at WSU.” Wells averaged nearly 23 points last year, ranking tenth out of all D II players. He likes to put it on the floor, using his length and agility in the lane to force the action. Wells also made 45% of his 110 triple tries last year, and could really help to balance out the Cougs’ new-look perimeter arsenal. While he remains something of an unknown, Wells has undeniable skill, and has a full year’s experience as the main focus of opposing defenders. If he can hit the ground running in the Pac 12, Wells may be one of Smith’s most important players. 

When the Cougs want to go big, Smith can turn to a pair of talented new post players. Australian import Oscar Cluff arrives from junior college with a reputation as an extremely efficient big. “He’s a really skillful ‘5 man,’ ” Smith said during summer practices. “That’s something we haven’t really had. He’s a high-percentage field-goal guy who can pass and has a good feel for the game. He’s easy to play with. When he gets the ball, it’s good offense, because something usually happens.” Cluff is good offense because he led all JuCo players with an overall 74.8% mark from the floor last year, and has great touch around the rim. He’s also an active presence on the glass, posting 12 double-doubles in 26 games a year ago. If Cluff can defend at a high enough level, he may well play starter’s minutes and combine with Jones to give the Cougs a real post-up scoring presence.

Five Out-of-Conference Games to Keep an Eye on

N – Mississippi State – November 18

N – Northwestern / Rhode Island – November 19

vs Boise State – December 21

vs Santa Clara – December 16

vs Portland State – December 2

This year’s highest rated freshman is Nigerian pivot Ruben Chinyelu, a 4-star prospect who has consistently been rated just outside the top 100 of this year’s class. While he isn’t as versatile offensively as a couple of Smith’s more recent highly-touted freshman bigs, Chinyelu has a highly translatable frame and some out-of-the-box impact skills. It’s not just that Chinyelu arrives on the Palouse with a nearly NBA-ready body, it’s that he’s nearly seven feet tall: with a reported and ridiculous 7’8″ wingspan. Chinyelu can rim run and rim-protect, and he’s not going to get pushed out of the lane like some freshmen. It may take a bit for Chinyelu to do much more than cash in around the hoop on offense, and needs to define a go-to move or two. Still, Smith sees a great deal of potential in his newest talented big. “He has such a good motor and a good attitude,” Smith told the Seattle Times. “Where he can really impact us is just being a strong athlete around the rim that defends and rebounds. His offense will grow, too. He’s gonna be a high-percentage guy, and he’s gonna be dunking a lot.”

There are talented youngsters vying for minutes behind Yesufu, and potentially for the chance to play with him. Dylan Darling averaged just under 12 minutes as a freshman, and didn’t shoot the ball very well. Even so, he showed Smith enough to make four starts as a true freshman. With good quickness and confidence handling the ball, Darling should get a chance to run the point sometimes. If he can handle that responsibility – and help out defensively next to the shorter Yesufu – there may be 20 minutes per game in Darling’s future.

Miles Rice redshirted last season – and missed time before arriving on campus, as well – as he was being treated for non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Healthy now, and rounding back into game form, Rice is hungry to show off the skills that were put on hold. “Myles is looking healthy,” Smith said. “Obviously, it’s a concern with him being out for two years, but his speed is good. It’d be a great story, but I don’t want to put too much pressure on him.” Seattle product Isaiah Watts played his final prep year in Connecticut, but the speedy young combo guard is ready to debut on the Palouse. “Isaiah is another in-state home run for the Cougs,” Smith has said. “He is someone we have watched closely over the last couple of years and we are thrilled when he became available. He is a long, rangy guard with a good feel for how to play the game. He can dribble, pass, drive, cut, and shoot at a high level.” Watts was once committed to Seton Hall, but now he’s back on the home coast and should add both scoring punch and another crafty passer for Smith to develop. 

The Cougs lost almost 50 points per game when their top four scorers decided to do something other than return to Pullman this winter, and that type of production just isn’t easy to replace. Despite the solid additions to shore up this year’s roster, the jury will be somewhat out on Wazzu until they can prove that there is enough firepower to hang with the better teams on their schedule. 

Rodman isn’t the only big addition to a league rival this offseason, and on paper, Washington State is a step behind the top of the Pac 12. There are hungry guys on Smith’s roster, though; overlooked guys, former JuCo and Division II guys. It’s a group of guys who are looking to prove something. Together, they hope to be worth more than they would be separately. The castoff Cougs are ready to take on anything.