Danny Sprinkle is caught in another rebuild as he's watching his best players like Zoom Diallo leave for the transfer portal and another like Hannes Steinbach head to the NBA Draft. It's a tough spot to be for a team that didn't exactly meet its goals last season, or any season so far under Sprinkle. However, he must now turn to the portal and find his next team.
There's one top portal target that many teams will be chasing, but Sprinkle may have the inside lane thanks to Jedd Fisch and the Washington Huskies football team. Texas Tech forward LeJaun Watts, who averaged 11.8 points and 6.0 rebounds per game last year, has a brother on the Washington football team, DeSean Watts.
One name for @UW_MBB fans to keep an eye on is Texas Tech Forward LeJuan Watts, who just entered the portal. Physical forward who averaged 11.8 ppg and 6 rpg last year. Sources have indicated Washington will be a bigtime player here. Brother DeSean is also a DT for @UW_Football pic.twitter.com/oJ6y8fPSRm
— Jack McCauley (@JackMcCauley_) April 6, 2026
Washington is expected to pursue former Texas Tech forward LeJaun Watts in the transfer portal
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DeSean Watts transferred from Sacramento State this last offseason to play for Husky football. Now his brother LeJaun is in the portal looking for a new home. Washington needs an elite forward, and LeJuan saw how things went for Steinbach last season; there may be a natural inclination to make this thing happen.
According to the above report, Sprinkle is going to chase after Watts and hopefully bring him into the fold. It also helps that he was a top target last season out of the portal when he was leaving WSU, but ultimately went to Texas Tech. There's already a relationship built up there, and it could be an easy fit.
It would also help Sprinkle immensely to start to patch up the leaking ship. While it won't be the only patch, it's a big one as Watts can score, protect the rim, and bring down boards with the best of them.
It should also be noted that Watts plans to test the NBA waters, too. However, just based on stats this season and the NBA Draft need/players going in, he would make more money in college if he stuck around for another year.