Jamari Phillips arrives at Washington State with the kind of profile that makes a transfer portal swing worth taking. The numbers from Oregon were modest, but the pedigree still jumps off the page: a top-65 recruit, a highly regarded four-star, and a player the Cougars believe may simply have been in the wrong fit in Eugene.
That’s the bet for Washington State and David Riley. Phillips has obvious athletic talent, and the staff’s hope is that a different role - and a different system - can unlock more of what made him such a sought-after recruit in the first place.
Phillips is from Modesto, Calif., though he played high school ball at Dream City Christian in Phoenix. As a senior in the class of 2024, he was rated a four-star with a 93 grade, ranked No. 1 in Arizona and No. 61 nationally.
The offer sheet matched that status. Arizona, Kansas, Kansas State, Illinois, California, Arizona State, LSU, Louisville, USC, UCLA, Texas Tech, UW, Ole Miss and Southern Utah all came in, with Washington State entering the mix under the previous staff.
His path to Pullman has already taken a few turns. He originally signed with Arizona in 2023 before backing off and flipping to Oregon.
At Oregon, the production never really caught up to the hype. Phillips shot 31.5 percent from the field and 29.5 percent from three this past season, with his best outings coming in a nine-point game against UCLA and a seven-point performance against UW. Over 26 games, he averaged 2.7 points, 0.9 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 11.3 minutes per game.
Still, the upside is what makes this move interesting. In the 2023 scouting report from Adam Finkelstein, Phillips was described as “one of the more naturally talented, and versatile, guards in the class.” Finkelstein also wrote that he “is a tough shot-maker who can make threes and pull-ups in bunches when he gets hot,” and added that he had become “a legitimate power guard.”
That report also pointed to the physical growth that changed his game. Finkelstein noted that Phillips’ athleticism had developed with his frame, giving him more burst and explosiveness, while making him more dangerous attacking downhill and coming off ball screens. Defensively, he was described as someone who can pressure opposing ball-handlers full court.
Riley is clearly banking on that version of Phillips showing up at Washington State. As he put it, “He's just someone I enjoyed talking to for a while,” Riley said.
“And I think he needs a setting where he's got a coach that can let him operate in a little more freedom. And I think he can have a ton of success here.
And he can really shoot it. He's a guy that I think is going to thrive and be the next of those wings that has done really well in our system.”
It’s a classic portal gamble: limited production so far, but enough talent and enough recruiting heat to make you believe there’s more in there. If Phillips finds it at WSU, the Cougars may have landed a major piece.
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WSU Just Landed A Big Western Washington Boost For Coug Fans
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The deal goes beyond the main fall and winter properties, too. WSU womens basketball will be available on the Seattle Sports app for the first time, and one baseball game will also be carried on 710. The partnership adds a weekly video interview with offensive coordinator Kirby Moore as well, giving Coug followers another regular touchpoint as the school expands its reach in a crowded sports market. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Already Looks Like A Serious Pac-12 Problem For WSU
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For the Cougars, the challenge is obvious: this is not a newcomer arriving to learn the ropes. Boise State has spent years operating like a program that expects to win, and that mindset matters as much as the venue or the logo. With a 36,387-seat stadium, a growing institutional profile and a fan base that has seen plenty of success, the Broncos look like the kind of team that can immediately shape the new league hierarchy, even before the full picture of the conference settles in. [Read more 🡒]