Washington’s men’s basketball roster is finally set for 2026-27, and the last piece came from the transfer portal. Harun Zrno’s arrival from Rutgers gave the Huskies a full 15-player allotment, closing the book on an offseason that was all about reshuffling and rebuilding.
That kind of turnover has become routine in Seattle. Washington brought back only six players from last season, making it the second straight year Danny Sprinkle had to replace more than half of his roster. A year ago, he returned just two players.
The bigger story, though, is the money game around college basketball now. With NIL reshaping the sport, some current and former Huskies are set to out-earn LeBron James this season.
James, who is entering his 24th NBA season, signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers as he chases a fifth championship before retirement. He’ll make $3.9 million this season from Philadelphia so the team can keep financial flexibility while building out its roster.
That opens the door for plenty of college players to clear that number, including former Washington guard Zoom Diallo. Now at Kentucky, Diallo is reportedly set to make at least $3.9 million this season. He put up 15.7 points per game on 48.9% shooting across 33 games, with 29 starts, for the Huskies last season.
There wasn’t a current Washington player listed in the article, but the most likely top earner on the roster is junior guard Wesley Yates III. Yates first came to Washington in 2023-24, but he missed the entire season because of injury before transferring to USC. There, he averaged 14.1 points on 47.8% shooting, including 43.9% from 3-point range, over 33 games and 24 starts.
He transferred back to Washington before last season, but injuries followed him again. A broken bone in his wrist required surgery and cost him multiple games, and when he came back, he never fully found his rhythm. Yates finished the year averaging 12.7 points across 27 games, with 25 starts, while shooting 37.1% from the floor and 31.2% from deep.
In Other News...
Another Washington Rotation Guard Just Found His Next Stop
Quimari Petersons next stop is set after his lone season in Montlake, as the former Washington guard has signed on for his first professional opportunity following the end of his college eligibility. Peterson arrived at UW after stops at East Tennessee State and Indiana State, then settled into a rotation role for a Huskies team that was trying to find its footing through a difficult season.
Petersons production dipped from the scoring level he showed earlier in his college career, but he still gave Washington a steady backcourt presence and logged important minutes across the year. Now he moves on to the pro game with a chance to reset his trajectory, and the Huskies continue to watch a familiar theme unfold as another transfer-era guard moves on to his next chapter. [Read more 🡒]
42 Days Until Kickoff And This Huskies Number Carries Real History
With 42 days left until the 2026 opener against Washington State, the number on the Huskies jersey carries a little more weight than most. It is one of those countdown stops that doubles as a reminder of how much program history lives in the details, from Jay Barrys memorable burst in the 1991 title chase to Cory Littletons rise from an overlooked recruit to a Washington standout and then an NFL linebacker.
Carson Bruener gave the number a modern chapter, too, after a solid college career that ended with him becoming Washingtons lone selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Huskies have had different kinds of players wear 42, from one-game swing pieces to long-term contributors, and that mix is what makes the number worth a second look as the season draws closer. [Read more 🡒]