The Husky Haul
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Washington basketball: Looking ahead to 2020

By Herbert Nightingale

SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 08: Quade Green #55 of the Washington Huskies shoots over Admon Gilder #1 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the 2nd half at Hec Edmundson Pavilion on December 8, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Mike Tedesco/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 08: Quade Green #55 of the Washington Huskies shoots over Admon Gilder #1 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the 2nd half at Hec Edmundson Pavilion on December 8, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Mike Tedesco/Getty Images) /
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Let’s take a look at the 2020-21 Washington basketball season and highlight some key guys that’ll help return the Huskies to their winning ways!

Washington basketball should have high expectations going into the 2020-21 season, as while the Huskies aren’t returning their two top freshmen, they have a lot of impact talent returning, along with some key incoming transfer pieces.

It’s impossible to tell what the next step will be for any NCAA sport at this point. In the best-case scenario, if stay at home orders are lifted soon and the curve of new cases is flattened, players might be able to return to campus in late June or early July. That’ll be great for Mike Hopkins and some of the new players that need to be integrated into the lineup.

Erik Stevenson, a shooting guard out of Lacey, Washington who transferred in from Wichita State is probably the program’s biggest addition. Only time will tell if he’ll be able to play due to NCAA transfer rules, but Stevenson is an established scorer who can shoot, and step up and hit a big shot when he’s needed.

The other big name is J’Raan Brooks, a former top-100 prospect out of Garfield High in Seattle, who originally committed to USC before transferring back home before the 2019-20 season began. Brooks will probably slide in for Isaiah Stewart down low, and while he might not have the same instant double-double impact, he’ll be Washington’s top option in the low post.

Quade Green is expected to be back as the Huskies’ starting point guard, and academically eligible to play. He should be backed up by Marcus Tsohonis, who took over as the point guard when Green was ruled ineligible. Tsohonis is expected to make a big jump during his sophomore year, and his experience starting as a freshman will be a huge lift for the Huskies off the bench.

Hopkins’ squad will be much deeper at guard during the coming year, especially with another year of experience under the belts of junior Jamal Bey and sophomore RaeQuan Battle. Expect the two-time Pac-12 Coach of the Year to have his guys ready to compete for the top spot in the conference whenever the season may start.

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