When Wesley Yates III returned to Washington through the transfer portal after a year at USC, Danny Sprinkle and the Huskies coaching staff were expecting the former highly-touted recruit to make a big impact.
While he posted 12.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.3 assists per game, he shot just 31.3 percent from three-point range, a far cry from the 43.9 percent he displayed with the Trojans during the 2024-25 season. Now, Yates is dealing with a different injury that has kept him out for the majority of the offseason
"It was hard, he broke his hand in the first couple minutes of the Seattle U game," Sprinkle told the Big Ten Network. "Then he was out for about five weeks, and then coming back with a plate in his shooting hand, that's
why he didn't shoot the percentage he did his (redshirt) freshman year at USC. We expect to get him back; he hasn't practiced all summer or fall yet. We're hoping to get him back this week; he's got a medical issue that we're still working through."
Whenever Yates returns, the head coach is hoping he'll anchor a backcourt group that's been heavily bolstered through the transfer portal, with Parker Friedrichsen, Tayshaun Comer, Ryan Beasley, and Tristan Devers expected to be heavily featured in the rotation.
"I expect him to have a great season. He's a competitive kid, a tough kid, and now with his wrist and hand healthy, he'll be back."
Sprinkle has placed a heavy emphasis on three-point shooting over the offseason, and if Yates can return to close to the form that he showed at USC, he could be one of the most threatening scorers in the Big Ten.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington basketball expecting big contribution from Wesley Yates III
