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WSU men’s coach David Riley hopes to avoid a rebuild, but he can if he needs to​

Greg WoodsApril 4, 2024 at 8:56 pm
By
The Spokesman-Review
PULLMAN — Days before David Riley took the head coaching job at Washington State, before he made the 90-minute drive from Cheney for his introduction on Thursday, his job became exponentially tougher.

That’s because many of the current Cougars, the players who helped the program reach its first NCAA tournament in 16 years, hit the transfer portal. Since their season ended in late March, 10 players have entered the portal, and on Thursday, junior wing Jaylen Wells declared for the NBA draft.

Wells retains the option to return to WSU, as do the other 10 Cougs who have entered the portal. But it’s unlikely that all return, which means Riley will have some work to do: Either convince some of the players to stay — or rebuild the roster in the weeks and months ahead.

“My first goal is to retain,” Riley said. “I want every single one of these guys back. I don’t have some preconceived idea. … These guys are incredible players that mean a lot to this university. If I can retain, there definitely will not be a rebuild. That’s the first piece.”

Can Riley do it? Six WSU players attended Thursday’s news conference, including Wells, senior wing Andrej Jakimovski, freshman center Rueben Chinyelu and walk-on center AJ LeBeau, the last three of whom are in the portal. Also in attendance were freshmen guards Isaiah Watts and Parker Gerrits, both of whom appear to be staying put in Pullman.

That made the absence of a few players noticeable. Star guard Myles Rice was not in attendance, and neither was junior center Oscar Cluff, both of whom are also in the portal. Sophomore wing Kymany Houinsou and senior guard Joseph Yesufu (who missed nearly the whole season with an injury) also were not at the news conference.

They could have missed for any number of reasons — they’re still student-athletes with class schedules — but their absences may have offered a glimpse into the way Riley may have to retool this roster over the offseason. All players in the portal can return to WSU, but even if a majority return, Riley will have to find replacements.

The good news for WSU is that at Eastern Washington, where he spent the past three seasons as head coach, Riley did just that. Back in the offseason of 2021, when Riley took the head job, the Eagles lost all seven of their top scorers, including forward Tanner Groves and guard Kim Aiken Jr., the linchpins on an EWU team that made the NCAA tournament and threatened third-seeded Kansas.

The very next year, guard Steele Venters broke out and EWU finished the regular season three games above .500, making the postseason at The Basketball Classic. The season after that, the Eagles won the first of two straight Big Sky regular-season titles, while Venters took home conference MVP honors and EWU landed two players on the all-conference first team.

All to say: Riley hopes he doesn’t have to rebuild this WSU roster, but if he does, he has experience to draw on.

“Comfortable with the idea of that,” Riley said. “It all starts with development. We had a bunch of guys that were under the radar, that weren’t supposed to be good coming out of high school. It’s kind of the idea of those guys. We had these great players, but the idea of [former EWU player] Tyler Harvey coming in, walking on for two years and in year four, being the leading scorer in the country and getting drafted by the Magic.

“That idea can transfer to all these different players if you work the same way. You have guys here that have the same kind of idea, the same story and the same background. We’ve just got to use that. We’re going to develop. We’re going to work. I want these guys because they’re really good.”

If Riley does have to rebuild in some capacity, he might look at his EWU team, which won the Big Sky regular-season title last season before falling in the conference tournament. Junior wing Casey Jones, a second-team all-conference pick who averaged 13 points and ranked first nationwide in free-throw rate last season, entered the transfer portal on Thursday. Riley said he had not talked to Jones since he entered the portal.

Among other potential candidates to come from EWU to WSU: all-conference first teamer Cedric Coward, a 6-6 guard; second-teamer Ethan Price, a 6-10 forward; and LeJuan Watts, a 6-6 forward who won Big Sky Newcomer of the Year honors last season.

Riley didn’t offer much in the way of whether any of those guys could follow him to WSU. He did say when he took the Washington State job, he called each Eagle individually to thank them for their contributions — “for the opportunity they gave me to come here. It was all them,” Riley said.

“We’ll see where things lie,” Riley added.

He sang much the same tune on the topic of his staff, which he hopes to finalize in the days ahead, he said. He offered no hints on potential candidates, but one of his EWU assistants, Jerry Brown, attended Thursday’s news conference.

On Friday, Riley will head to Phoenix to watch the Final Four, he said. He hopes to complete his coaching staff then.

Greg Woods Washington State beat writer for The Spokesman-Review
 
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WSU men’s coach David Riley hopes to avoid a rebuild, but he can if he needs to​

Greg WoodsApril 4, 2024 at 8:56 pm
By
The Spokesman-Review
PULLMAN — Days before David Riley took the head coaching job at Washington State, before he made the 90-minute drive from Cheney for his introduction on Thursday, his job became exponentially tougher.

That’s because many of the current Cougars, the players who helped the program reach its first NCAA tournament in 16 years, hit the transfer portal. Since their season ended in late March, 10 players have entered the portal, and on Thursday, junior wing Jaylen Wells declared for the NBA draft.

Wells retains the option to return to WSU, as do the other 10 Cougs who have entered the portal. But it’s unlikely that all return, which means Riley will have some work to do: Either convince some of the players to stay — or rebuild the roster in the weeks and months ahead.

“My first goal is to retain,” Riley said. “I want every single one of these guys back. I don’t have some preconceived idea. … These guys are incredible players that mean a lot to this university. If I can retain, there definitely will not be a rebuild. That’s the first piece.”

Can Riley do it? Six WSU players attended Thursday’s news conference, including Wells, senior wing Andrej Jakimovski, freshman center Rueben Chinyelu and walk-on center AJ LeBeau, the last three of whom are in the portal. Also in attendance were freshmen guards Isaiah Watts and Parker Gerrits, both of whom appear to be staying put in Pullman.

That made the absence of a few players noticeable. Star guard Myles Rice was not in attendance, and neither was junior center Oscar Cluff, both of whom are also in the portal. Sophomore wing Kymany Houinsou and senior guard Joseph Yesufu (who missed nearly the whole season with an injury) also were not at the news conference.

They could have missed for any number of reasons — they’re still student-athletes with class schedules — but their absences may have offered a glimpse into the way Riley may have to retool this roster over the offseason. All players in the portal can return to WSU, but even if a majority return, Riley will have to find replacements.

The good news for WSU is that at Eastern Washington, where he spent the past three seasons as head coach, Riley did just that. Back in the offseason of 2021, when Riley took the head job, the Eagles lost all seven of their top scorers, including forward Tanner Groves and guard Kim Aiken Jr., the linchpins on an EWU team that made the NCAA tournament and threatened third-seeded Kansas.

The very next year, guard Steele Venters broke out and EWU finished the regular season three games above .500, making the postseason at The Basketball Classic. The season after that, the Eagles won the first of two straight Big Sky regular-season titles, while Venters took home conference MVP honors and EWU landed two players on the all-conference first team.

All to say: Riley hopes he doesn’t have to rebuild this WSU roster, but if he does, he has experience to draw on.

“Comfortable with the idea of that,” Riley said. “It all starts with development. We had a bunch of guys that were under the radar, that weren’t supposed to be good coming out of high school. It’s kind of the idea of those guys. We had these great players, but the idea of [former EWU player] Tyler Harvey coming in, walking on for two years and in year four, being the leading scorer in the country and getting drafted by the Magic.

“That idea can transfer to all these different players if you work the same way. You have guys here that have the same kind of idea, the same story and the same background. We’ve just got to use that. We’re going to develop. We’re going to work. I want these guys because they’re really good.”

If Riley does have to rebuild in some capacity, he might look at his EWU team, which won the Big Sky regular-season title last season before falling in the conference tournament. Junior wing Casey Jones, a second-team all-conference pick who averaged 13 points and ranked first nationwide in free-throw rate last season, entered the transfer portal on Thursday. Riley said he had not talked to Jones since he entered the portal.

Among other potential candidates to come from EWU to WSU: all-conference first teamer Cedric Coward, a 6-6 guard; second-teamer Ethan Price, a 6-10 forward; and LeJuan Watts, a 6-6 forward who won Big Sky Newcomer of the Year honors last season.

Riley didn’t offer much in the way of whether any of those guys could follow him to WSU. He did say when he took the Washington State job, he called each Eagle individually to thank them for their contributions — “for the opportunity they gave me to come here. It was all them,” Riley said.

“We’ll see where things lie,” Riley added.

He sang much the same tune on the topic of his staff, which he hopes to finalize in the days ahead, he said. He offered no hints on potential candidates, but one of his EWU assistants, Jerry Brown, attended Thursday’s news conference.

On Friday, Riley will head to Phoenix to watch the Final Four, he said. He hopes to complete his coaching staff then.

Greg Woods Washington State beat writer for The Spokesman-Review
Shit - offer Shaw to stay for at least a year at same salary unless Smith snatches him up.
 
It would be great to keep Wells, I don't think the NBA is a realistic option for him yet, plus the NBA is shutting down the G League Ignite after this season. The problem I see with 1 foot out the door is he will get some attractive NIL offers, which we might have a hard time matching. On other portal entries, rumor has it Rice is down to Auburn, Indiana, and Texas A & M.
 
It would be great to keep Wells, I don't think the NBA is a realistic option for him yet, plus the NBA is shutting down the G League Ignite after this season. The problem I see with 1 foot out the door is he will get some attractive NIL offers, which we might have a hard time matching. On other portal entries, rumor has it Rice is down to Auburn, Indiana, and Texas A & M.
Interesting about Rice. A week ago I read he was down to Stanford and South Carolina.

Glad Cougar
 
It would be great to keep Wells, I don't think the NBA is a realistic option for him yet, plus the NBA is shutting down the G League Ignite after this season. The problem I see with 1 foot out the door is he will get some attractive NIL offers, which we might have a hard time matching. On other portal entries, rumor has it Rice is down to Auburn, Indiana, and Texas A & M.
Wells has not entered the Portal from what I see. OK to sniff the NBA, get the scouts looking at him. He's got a prominent starting spot locked up tight. Tear up the WCC (he's from Sacramento BTW) and he's good to go for a possible NBA shot. He does have his Covid year available, so he could bail next year if he needed to.

Note on Rice - yeah SC (he's from there) or Stanford. Or stay? He'll only be a Sophomore. Improve that 3 ball next year and who knows. One thing about him, good as he is to the basket, we spent many a possession watching him dribble around for much of the shot clock, when from what I could see shooters were open on the perimeter. Not nearly enough passing the ball around for my liking.

And Cluff - he's got a solid mid-range jumper. Can he stretch it out a little farther ala Baynes in the NBA? His defense is solid. I don't see him getting a bunch of lucrative offers in the Portal.
 
I agree about Rice--as good as he was, MORE PASSING would have been a definite improvement. . I'm a bit surprised at Cluff; thought he was one of those most likely to stay. I really hope Yaki stays - that would be huge... any rumblings about any of his players coming from EWU?
 
I agree about Rice--as good as he was, MORE PASSING would have been a definite improvement. . I'm a bit surprised at Cluff; thought he was one of those most likely to stay. I really hope Yaki stays - that would be huge... any rumblings about any of his players coming from EWU?
Casey Jones entered the portal yesterday.

Kurt Rambis glasses included.
 
Casey Jones entered the portal yesterday.

Kurt Rambis glasses included.
A brandx poster noticed Jones' social media has changed to WSU. He apparently will take the final spot.

Versatile and good player that seems to play really hard.
 
A brandx poster noticed Jones' social media has changed to WSU. He apparently will take the final spot.

Versatile and good player that seems to play really hard.
I am surprised that they didn't go for another player 6'10" or taller. But they may have struck out on several of the candidates they were after to programs in P4 conferences and with more $$$ to pay players.

I think it is likely that each of the EWU players does get better at WSU with everything that comes with playing on a team with a lot more resources than EWU had. WSU has a great nutrition program, a better weight room, plus the practice tracking devices and software that was purchased because Kyle Smith wanted it. This team has much more depth than Riley's EWU teams which does make the team better during practice. Plus, the three freshman guards are far better freshman recruits than Riley could even think about getting at EWU.

I am so excited about this next season.
 
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I am surprised that they didn't go for another player 6'10" or taller. But they may have struck out on several of the candidates they were after to programs in P4 conferences and with more $$$ to pay players.

I think it is likely that each of the EWU players does get better at WSU with everything that comes with playing on a team with a lot more resources than EWU had. WSU has a great nutrition program, a better weight room, plus the practice tracking devices and software that was purchased because Kyle Smith wanted it. This team has much more depth than Riley's EWU teams which does make the team better during practice. Plus, the three freshman guards are far better freshman recruits than Riley could even think about getting at EWU.

I am so excited about this next season.
Seems like they were after a young big. That's not Jones, but a good addition. I like all the 6'6"-ish guys we have on the roster. Coward, LeJuan Watts, Wynott, Thrastarson, Vavers, and now Jones. That's good potential perimeter length with some able to help with only having 3 bigs.

Definitely agree with you on the young guards and Riley's ability to bring in better talent than he could at EWU.
 
Seems like they were after a young big. That's not Jones, but a good addition. I like all the 6'6"-ish guys we have on the roster. Coward, LeJuan Watts, Wynott, Thrastarson, Vavers, and now Jones. That's good potential perimeter length with some able to help with only having 3 bigs.

Definitely agree with you on the young guards and Riley's ability to bring in better talent than he could at EWU.
I love all the interchangeable players. WSU is going to be tough to play defense against.
Watching this offense may be the best offense we've seen in Pullman. The ball movement, the player movement and finding open areas, the drives to the hoop, the free throw shooting, and the excellent shooting is going to be fun to watch.
 
Seems like they were after a young big. That's not Jones, but a good addition. I like all the 6'6"-ish guys we have on the roster. Coward, LeJuan Watts, Wynott, Thrastarson, Vavers, and now Jones. That's good potential perimeter length with some able to help with only having 3 bigs.

Definitely agree with you on the young guards and Riley's ability to bring in better talent than he could at EWU.

4,5 Bigs, Coward, Price, Erikstrup, Okafor, and at least 1 of about 2,3 6-7 guys, 1 of which can probably play the 4 if had to.

And the other 1,2,3 6-7 guys can play the 3, SF, Wing spot.

Then there's 1,2,3 6-5,6-6 players that can play the 3,2 spots. And then there 2,3,4 that can play the 1,2 spots.

Lots of versatile interchangeable, exchangeable pieces, that can play multiple positions.

Hard to guard, making the offense good, great, and great, good depth, starters, etc, making for potentially good, great defense, if either the players are good defenders or good help defense, team defenders, or if they can be coached up that way, if Riley can either coach it, or learn to coach it, etc, like with what happened with Smith how he Smith eventually did better defensively at WSU, etc.
 
Should be a fun team to watch! I think we’re pretty solid up front with Lejuan Watts, Okafor, Price and Erikstrop. I would assume the last three would get most of time at the 4&5 while L Watts played mostly the 4 at EWU he could also play some 3 behind Casey Jones if that rumor is true.

FYI it really doesn’t matter position wise in our offense just for matchups on defense
 
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Should be a fun team to watch! I think we’re pretty solid up front with Lejuan Watts, Okafor, Price and Erikstrop. I would assume the last three would get most of time at the 4&5 while L Watts played mostly the 4 at EWU he could also play some 3 behind Casey Jones if that rumor is true.

FYI it really doesn’t matter position wise in our offense just for matchups on defense
Wells signs contract. I wonder what the breakdown is with first 2 years guaranteed? Best to him.

 
What a meteoric rise. A year ago I was hoping a DII kid could contribute a little. Now he's a millionaire. Not to mention he pulled off one of the most memorable shots in Cougar history when he put that dagger in Arizona's heart. Good for him.
 

Pretty Awesome line of 27 points 6 rebound 3 assist 1 steal 1 block.

That translates to about 14 points 4 rebounds 2 assist 1 steal in the real NBA non summer league, mid NBA season games that Klay in.

That's good enough to punch a ticket, get playing time, start, be 6th, 7th man off bench, have long term security, etc, in the real NBA, instead of the NBA's version of the minor league, rookie league(summer league)
 
Pretty Awesome line of 27 points 6 rebound 3 assist 1 steal 1 block.

That translates to about 14 points 4 rebounds 2 assist 1 steal in the real NBA non summer league, mid NBA season games that Klay in.

That's good enough to punch a ticket, get playing time, start, be 6th, 7th man off bench, have long term security, etc, in the real NBA, instead of the NBA's version of the minor league, rookie league(summer league)

But "Wells doesn't have, isn't NBA freakish athleticism, and doesn't have NBA potential, etc"
 
But "Wells doesn't have, isn't NBA freakish athleticism, and doesn't have NBA potential, etc"

And "Wells probably won't even be drafted"

"Wells be just only be a good college player, not NBA"

"Wells only play overseas at best"
 
Pretty Awesome line of 27 points 6 rebound 3 assist 1 steal 1 block.

That translates to about 14 points 4 rebounds 2 assist 1 steal in the real NBA non summer league, mid NBA season games that Klay in.

That's good enough to punch a ticket, get playing time, start, be 6th, 7th man off bench, have long term security, etc, in the real NBA, instead of the NBA's version of the minor league, rookie league(summer league)
What a jump in production from his first summer league game. Great to see.

 
The Grizzlies seem to be rotating a bunch of players through their lineup to get a chance to look at multiple players. Several top players from the first game against the Jazz didn’t play in the second game (coaches decision) then Wells didn’t play yesterday. So far one good game one bad game and one DNP. If he can just keep shooting well from outside he has a chance to land a spot
 
The Grizzlies seem to be rotating a bunch of players through their lineup to get a chance to look at multiple players. Several top players from the first game against the Jazz didn’t play in the second game (coaches decision) then Wells didn’t play yesterday. So far one good game one bad game and one DNP. If he can just keep shooting well from outside he has a chance to land a spot
Yup, at 6’8” (or whatever his true height) he’s definitely worth a long look giben the shooting potential. Woods tweeted him knocking down a 3 (and-1) similar to the one he hit against UA (? check me on that).

I’m bummed I got busy this week and was able to see Wells & Jones.

 
Yup, at 6’8” (or whatever his true height) he’s definitely worth a long look giben the shooting potential. Woods tweeted him knocking down a 3 (and-1) similar to the one he hit against UA (? check me on that).

I’m bummed I got busy this week and was able to see Wells & Jones.


Wells is a combination, cross of Glen Rice(6-8, Awesome Reggie Miller like shooter), Reggie Miller(6-7, awesome 3 point shooter, and other stuff), Malik Sealy(6-8, like a Sean Elliot), Sean Elliot(6-8), all combined, crossed into 1 player.

Now I am not saying he is as good as those players. Maybe he won't be as good as them, maybe he will, we don't know yet, and Wells definitely has something to prove, that he hasn't yet proved at the NBA level.

But despite that, Wells does have NBA potential, and the potential to be a cross, combination of the 6-7, 6-8 players I mentioned, and does have the potential to be like them, maybe potentially even better then them someday, if if he realizes, accomplishes that potential in the far off future someday.

But style of play, type of player wise, Wells is the style, type of player wise that's a combination, cross of the players I mentioned, stylistically, type of player wise, and potential, upside, etc, wise.

What Wells needs to have happen now, is to continue playing, shooting, well enough, not hit a extended shooting slump now at a bad time, so that he will continue to get the chance to produce, etc, well enough to lock up not only a roster spot, but to get lots of playing time, at, in the non summer league, real NBA mid season level that Klay plays in, and continue to progress, develop, improve, work hard, realize, achieve, etc, his potential, upside, etc.

If Wells does that, he would, will be even more comparable to the players I mentioned, not only in style, type, but closer to the production, contribution, etc, of those players

Whether Wells will successfully go thru that process, and achieve, become that, remains to be seen, if that happens, so we will have to wait and see if that happens.

But he Wells does have that potential, upside, etc, if they continue to give him the chance. And based on what happen so far, they probably, will continue to give Wells that chance.
 
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Bad game from Wells 1-6 shooting 0-3 from deep. That makes it 2 bad, 1 good and 1 DNP
 
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