Washington State basketball is making waves this offseason, aggressively reshaping its roster with a trio of new additions ahead of the April 21st transfer portal deadline. The Cougars have landed two more former four-star high school recruits, signaling a clear commitment to building a competitive squad under head coach David Riley.

First up is Jaylen Harrell, a 6'5" forward who brings intriguing potential despite a rocky start at Providence. As a redshirt freshman, Harrell appeared in just six games before a torn meniscus cut his season short. But even in limited action, he flashed the scoring touch that made him a four-star prospect out of Maine—knocking down all five of his two-point attempts and showing range from deep. With offers from Xavier, Rutgers, and Virginia Tech on his resume, Harrell could be a key offensive weapon for the Cougars if he returns to full health.

Next is Ladji Dembele, a 6'8" power forward transferring from UNLV. Like Harrell, Dembele's 2024-25 campaign was derailed by a foot injury after just five games. But Cougar fans may remember him from his time at Iowa, where he faced Washington State back in November 2024. In that 76-66 loss, Dembele posted 5 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists. More notably, during his sophomore year with the Hawkeyes, he ranked among the nation's top offensive rebounders—grabbing 11.6% of misses while on the floor, good for 127th in the country. Dembele's game draws comparisons to fellow transfer Fraser Roxburgh, offering a smaller forward who thrives on the glass.

Rounding out the latest wave is Tyler Kropp, the tallest addition at 6'9". The forward spent his freshman season at Northwestern, appearing in 31 games with 10 starts. Averaging 11.8 minutes per game, Kropp posted 3.1 points and 2.1 rebounds while giving the Wildcats some much-needed size. In his first career start, he hauled in nine rebounds against Purdue—a glimpse of the interior presence he can provide. For Washington State, Kropp fills a critical need for length and depth in the frontcourt.

With these moves, the Cougars are clearly stacking talent and versatility. Keep an eye on how these newcomers mesh—and whether they can help WSU make some noise in the coming season.