It looks like Washington State is gearing up for some changes, with Eemeli Yalaho set to enter the transfer portal on April 7. This move, first reported by Joe Tipton of On3 Sports, marks the first confirmed departure for the Cougars this off-season, following some earlier confusion about Rihards Vavers.
Yalaho, a 6-foot-8, 235-pound forward from Jyvaskyla, Finland, made a solid impact in his lone season with the Cougars. He averaged 10.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, while shooting an impressive 39.8 percent from beyond the arc. He played in all 32 games, starting 27 of them, after transferring from Texas Tech.
However, Yalaho’s season wasn’t without its challenges. Against top-tier opponents like Gonzaga, St.
Mary's, and USC, his offensive rating dropped to 74.3, with a turnover rate of 27.9 percent and a three-point shooting percentage of just 25.9. In these games, he averaged 7.0 points and 3.8 rebounds, highlighting some struggles in high-pressure situations.
Turnovers were a persistent issue for Yalaho, as he posted the third-highest turnover rate on the team at 19.3 percent, which increased to 22.6 percent during WCC play. His performance waned towards the end of the season, averaging 8.1 points per game over his last six outings and shooting 29 percent from three-point range.
With Yalaho’s expected departure and point guard Adria Rodriguez turning pro, Washington State faces four open roster spots for next season. The situation could further evolve depending on whether Simon Hildebrandt seeks another year of eligibility and if Casey Jones returns from his mission and redshirts in 2026-27.
Yalaho’s transfer might also influence fellow Finnish player Brunel Madzou, who redshirted this season. Replacing Yalaho will be crucial for the Cougars, as he embodied the kind of versatile shooting big that coach David Riley values. While not the tallest on the roster, his ability to stretch the floor was a key component of Riley's strategy.
In today’s college basketball landscape, finding bigs who can shoot is becoming more common, but with Yalaho, Hildebrandt, and Emmanuel Ugbo potentially gone, the Cougars are left without returning stretch forwards. Players like Vavers, Tomas Thrastarson, and Kase Wynott are more wing-oriented, which could shift how the team approaches its lineup and shooting strategy next season.