Washington State’s revamped backcourt is built with a different kind of edge.
That was part of David Riley’s plan as he reshaped the Cougars’ roster for 2026-27: bring in guards who are willing to get physical, stir things up and make the other side uncomfortable. In Jamari Phillips, Jaylen Harrell and Casey Jones, he appears to have found exactly that at the off-guard spot.
Riley said the group already shows a sharper bite in workouts and exhibition play. “We have more aggression and a little more confidence than last year,” Riley said.
“That can bite you a little bit, too, if you overdo it. So, we are trying to learn how to use that within the concepts of our offense and defense.
‘We want to be a physical team. That is something we want to embrace.”
Phillips arrives with the most recognizable recruiting pedigree of the three. Once a top-50 national prospect and Arizona’s top recruit out of Dream City Christian in the 2024 class, he originally signed with Arizona before asking for his release and heading to Oregon. Over two seasons with the Ducks, he appeared in 40 games, all off the bench, and averaged 2.2 points while shooting 29.8 percent from the floor.
His offensive game can flash, especially with his step-back jumper and other set-up moves, but he has been more streaky scorer than steady creator. Where Washington State may get the most value is on the other end, where his length and edge could give the Cougars a defensive presence and a voice they need.
Harrell brings a different resume and a different kind of polish. A two-time Gatorade state player of the year at Cambridge Arts, Technology and Science Academy in 2024 and 2025, he was Massachusetts’ top recruit in the 2025 class. His first season at Providence was interrupted after six games by meniscus repair surgery on his knee, and he entered the transfer portal after Kim English was dismissed.
Even with the stop-and-start path, Harrell’s game looks tailor-made for a major role. He has a strong feel for the game, does a little bit of everything well and should be one of the Cougars’ best threats from 3-point range. His length also gives him value as a perimeter defender and rebounder, whether he starts or comes off the bench as a sixth man.
Jones is the veteran of the group and the one Riley knows best. He came to Eastern Washington in Riley’s early years there, arriving from Wasatch Academy in Utah, and logged 92 games over three seasons with the Eagles, including a second-team Big Sky Conference selection in 2023-24. He also spent two years away from basketball on an LBD Church mission.
Jones originally expected to redshirt at Washington State and play next season, but changes in NCAA eligibility rules opened the door for him to play two seasons beginning this year. That makes him a useful piece right away, and maybe more than that.
His ability to fill different roles, score and defend on both ends and bring a quiet intensity should make him one of the most dependable players on the roster. He’s listed as a guard, but he could spend more time in the frontcourt this winter.
In Other News...
Washington State Let Another Winnable Game Slip Away Late
Washington State had enough of the game to leave Snapdragon Stadium with a result it could have lived with, but instead walked away with a 26-20 loss to San Diego State after a late chance slipped through its hands. The Cougars moved the ball better than the Aztecs in yardage and controlled possession for longer stretches, which made the ending sting all the more in a game that felt there for the taking.
The bigger concern is the familiar one: WSU is still searching for its first Pac-12 win and sits at 1-8 overall, with another winnable game ending in frustration. There were positives in the performance, including a productive outing from tight end Trey Leckner in his return from a foot injury, but the Cougars could not turn those moments into the one drive that would have changed the night. [Read more 🡒]
Washington States Latest Loss Put One Frustrating Problem On Display
A frustrating season for Washington State kept taking on more familiar contours in a 26-20 loss to San Diego State, where the Cougars again found themselves undone by the kind of self-inflicted mistakes that have piled up over the first stretch of the year. With only one win in nine games, the margin for error has been thin for a team trying to stabilize itself, and this one featured a handful of decisions that left points on the field and momentum hanging in the balance.
The issues were not limited to one side of the ball, either. A conservative stretch before halftime slowed the offense when it still had a chance to press, and the late-game clock management only added to the sense that Washington State let opportunities slip away in a game it could have controlled more cleanly. For a team searching for answers, the loss was another reminder that the problems are not just about execution, but about the situational details that keep deciding close games. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Just Hit Another Painful Low This Season
Washington States season took another hard turn Saturday, with the Cougars falling 26-20 to San Diego State and staying winless against FBS competition. The loss left them at 1-8 overall and 0-5 in conference play, another reminder of how little margin this team has had to work with as the losses keep piling up.
There were some signs of life on offense, with quarterback Owen Eshelman helping the Cougars move the ball through the air and adding two rushing touchdowns of his own. But the defense had trouble slowing San Diego State on the ground, giving up 202 rushing yards, and Washington State could not turn enough of its chances into points to change the direction of a season that has become increasingly difficult to salvage. [Read more 🡒]