Washington State is bringing in a transfer who has already logged meaningful minutes at the Power Four level, and Sebastian Akins may end up being one of the more intriguing pieces in the Cougars’ 2026-27 mix.
The 6-2, 175-pound guard is coming over from Wake Forest after a season in which he played in all 35 games and made eight starts, including two in the ACC Tournament. Most of that work came in a backup role behind former WSU guard Nate Calmese, but Akins still carved out a steady presence and flashed enough to suggest there’s more in the tank.
He averaged 5.3 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game this past season. One of his better moments came in a 16-point outing in a win over Clemson, when he handled lead point guard duties after Calmese was hurt. He never fully settled into the ACC, but the production and the opportunity were there in spurts.
Akins’ best college season came at Denver two years ago, when he put up 12.7 points, 2.7 assists and 2.2 rebounds per game. He shot 42.1 percent from the floor and 30 percent from the field, appeared in 32 games and started 10. His first college game was a strong one, too: 15 points against Kyle Smith and Stanford.
That’s the version Washington State is hoping to get back. The level of competition will be higher than what he saw in the Summit, but maybe not as demanding as the ACC, and even in a reduced role this past season he still found ways to contribute.
There’s also a defensive angle here. Wake Forest has been an elite defensive team under Steve Forbes, and the Cougars may be hoping some of that edge comes with Akins. Washington State has lacked that kind of grit and defensive presence over the last couple of seasons, and Akins could help in that area.
The bigger issue is where he fits.
Lazerek Houston looks like the favorite to start at point guard, which leaves Akins in a tricky spot. He’s not big enough to be a true shooting guard, and his career 3-point percentage sits at 26.5 percent, so projecting him as a natural off-ball scorer comes with real questions. Washington State is hoping that number improves, but it’s a lot to ask him to simply become a shooting guard.
Houston, at 6-0 and 155 pounds, doesn’t really fit the shooting guard mold either. So the Cougars have some sorting out to do with their backcourt, and how Akins and Houston are used will be one of the season’s key questions.
David Riley said the staff is encouraged by what Akins has already shown.
"We're really excited about what he was able to show (previously) at Denver, and then starting a bunch of games in the ACC this year over at Wake Forest," David Riley said of Akins. "He's a guy who can pass it, but can also score at all three levels. Really physical guard.
"His steal rate is up there in the country. And so what he does defensively and offensively is really good.
And he's a guy that we don't get without relationships. And I think Nate (Calmese) had a great experience here and talked highly of us.
And what Sebastian needs is a system and a coaching staff that can believe in him and let him play to his fullest potential."
In Other News...
Washington State Just Got The Preseason Respect Cougar Fans Wanted
Preseason lists do not decide anything once the games start, but they do tell you where a program sits in the conversation, and Washington State got a healthy dose of respect from Phil Steele Magazine. Thirteen Cougars landed on the preseason All-Pac-12 teams, a strong early nod to a roster that has spent the offseason trying to prove it belongs near the top of the league picture. Linus Zunk led the way with first-team recognition, while the rest of the group spread across the second and third teams, giving the Cougars an unusually broad footprint in the magazines projections.
The mix of honorees also says something about how Washington State is being viewed heading into the season: not just through one marquee name, but through depth at multiple spots and a roster that includes both returning production and transfer additions. Tony Freeman, Ashton Tripp, Khamari Terrell and Jack Stevens were among the second-team selections, while Caden Pinnick, Darrius Clemons, Jonny Lester and Jirah Leaupepetele made the third team. Freeman also showed up as a specialist, a reminder that the Cougars have more than one player drawing attention before the first snap is even taken. [Read more 🡒]
WSU Fans Already Have One Big Problem With EAs New Ratings
Washington State fans got their first look at EA Sports College Football 27 ratings, and the early reaction probably wont surprise anyone who has followed how these reveals tend to go. The Cougars have four players rated 80 or better, with Tony Freeman leading the way as the highest-rated name on the roster, but the overall picture is already stirring debate because the games opening numbers do not quite match how WSU supporters see this team.
The bigger issue is what is missing and what looks off. Several Cougars are not in the game at all, while others have landed with ratings that feel lower than expected or, in a few cases, at positions that dont reflect where they actually play. EA Sports is expected to keep updating ratings as the season unfolds, but for now the initial rollout has given WSU fans plenty to gripe about and plenty of reason to keep checking back. [Read more 🡒]
David Riley Just Sent A Message WSU Fans Have Waited For
David Rileys latest summer update offered a clearer picture of what Washington State wants to become under his watch. The Cougars are using practice time to lean into a more physical, disruptive defensive identity, and Riley said the staff is intentionally slowing things down as the group works through the basics. It is the kind of offseason message fans usually want to hear this time of year, especially with the program trying to establish a new edge heading into another pivotal stretch.
Washington State also used the moment to lean into the broader Pac-12 conversation, unveiling a social media push tied to the leagues return and featuring several Cougar athletes in rally-style messaging. It fits the mood around the program right now: a mix of rebuilding, branding and belief, with former Cougars Cedric Coward and Isaac Jones also keeping the WSU pipeline visible in NBA Summer League. The next question is how much of this summer tone shows up once the games start for real. [Read more 🡒]