WSU Notes

WSU is still looking for a head coach after Montana State's Matt Logie turned them down after apparently getting a sweeter deal to stay with the Bobcats.

Logie was on the list of potentials to interview for the UP job after his very successful years at Whitworth and Point Loma, but of course Shantay was UP's first choice.

Logie now has just one year of D1 experience, and his team did make it the Tournament play-in game as a #16 seed only to lose to #16 Grambling in Dayton. MSU compiled 14-17 Big Sky record before sweeping the three-game Big Sky Tournament to finish 17-17 and 17-18 overall.

They got Shantay's successor at EWU, David Riley.

https://wsucougars.com/news/2024/4/2/mens-basketball-david-riley-named-cougar-basketball-head-coach.aspx

WSU now has eight players in the portal and at least seven open scholarships, but with the arrival of new head coach David Riley in Pullman, I am told a couple of players are reconsidering their portal status and it's likely Riley will bring at least one player with him from Cheney.

I am rooting for WSU and Riley to do well, just not as well as UP and Legans!!

DoubleDipper wrote: ...it's likely Riley will bring at least one player with him from Cheney.

And he did, 6-10/230 Ethan Price, and there is apparently another on the way, 6-10/240 Dane Erikstrup.

Both are juniors with one year to play, but Erikstrup should change his mind and come to UP.  He is from Beaverton, and IMO UP needs to have some local players to attract more fans and NIL money.

Unfortunately, very few local players (men and women) want to stay in the Portland area, apparently even finding Pullman a better place to matriculate and play.

A former member of the UP staff took a look at Erikstrup when he was in high school and deemed him not worthy of an offer, and he ended up at Cal Poly before transferring to EWU.  

Erikstrup holds dual US and Danish passports, played on the Danish U-18 and is a friend of new UP center, Jermaine Ballisager Webb.

Come on UP, let's change this young man's mind and bring him back to Portland.

DoubleDipper wrote:...it's likely Riley will bring at least one player with him from Cheney.

That number has doubled as EWU transfer and Big Sky Rookie of The Year LeJuan Watts will be joining EWU teammate Ethan Price.

The 6’6” forward appeared in 32 games, averaging 9.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. Watts shot 66% from 2, and 41% from 3 (15/37).

With three forwards moving to WSU from EWU along with their coach, my guess is Washington State junior Jaylen Wells saw the writing on the wall and has entered the transfer portal.

The 6’8” forward started 20/34 games, averaging 12.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists. Wells shot 42% from 3 (70/168).