NCAA Tournament 2024: Washington State is back in March Madness, and they have 6 former WA high school stars
The bracket is set, and there are 23 players who once played at Washington high schools now playing for D1 men’s basketball teams that have qualified for this year’s NCAA Tournament.
Here’s a look at the former high school standouts from the state listed on tournament rosters in 2024, including several all-conference and conference tournament honorees.
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BOISE STATE
F Tyson Degenhart, jr. (Mount Spokane) — Two-time All-Mountain West first-team selection leads the Broncos in scoring (17 points per game), and has added 6.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.1 steals in 31 appearances (31 starts) for Boise State this winter.
G Kobe Young, R-soph. (Chiawana)
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COLGATE
G Kyle Carlesimo, soph. (Seattle Prep, Eastern Illinois)
G Braeden Smith, soph. (Seattle Prep) — Patriot League player of the year paces regular season conference champion Colgate in scoring (12.5 points per game), assists (5.8) and steals (1.9), and has added 5.5 rebounds, starting all 34 games this winter. Also earned conference tournament MVP honors, posting a double-double with 15 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in Colgate’s conference tournament title win over Lehigh.
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CONNECTICUT
F Jaylin Stewart, fr. (Garfield) — Has appeared in 31 of 34 games as a true freshman for defending NCAA Tournament champion and No. 1 overall seed UConn, averaging 2.6 points and 1.2 rebounds. Had a trio of key second-half 3-pointers in the Huskies’ Big East Tournament championship win over Marquette. UConn also won a regular season conference title.
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GONZAGA
G Nolan Hickman, jr. (Eastside Catholic, Wasatch Academy) — All-WCC second-team selection has started all 32 games for Gonzaga this season, averaging 13.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1 steal.
G Steele Venters, R-jr. (Ellensburg, Eastern Washington)
F Anton Watson, gr. (Gonzaga Prep) — All-WCC first-team selection also earned all-tournament team honors this winter, and has started all 32 games for Gonzaga. Averages 14.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists and a team-leading 1.5 steals.
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MONTANA STATE
F Chika Nduka, jr. (Eastside Catholic, Portland) — Has appeared in 30 games for the Big Sky Tournament champion Bobcats this season, including starting two, and averages 3.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists.
G Tyler Patterson, jr. (Mount Si) — Has started all 34 games for the Big Sky Tournament champion Bobcats this winter, averaging 8.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1 steal per contest.
G Eddie Turner III, gr. (Garfield, Columbia) — Paces Big Sky Tournament champion Montana State in assists (3.7 per game), and has added 9.5 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 31 games (29 starts) for the Bobcats this season.
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SAINT MARY’S
F Mitchell Saxen, sr. (Ingraham) — Two-time All-WCC first-team selection was also the conference’s defensive player of the year this winter, and an all-tournament team pick for a Saint Mary’s program that won regular season and conference tournament championships. Team leader in rebounds (7.5) and blocks (1.3) has also averaged 11.7 points and 1.5 assists starting all 33 games this winter.
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SAN DIEGO STATE
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UTAH STATE
F Jackson Grant, jr. (Olympia, Washington)
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VIRGINIA
F Jacob Groves, gr. (Shadle Park, Eastern Washington, Oklahoma) — Has appeared in all 33 games for Virginia this winter, including 15 starts, and averaged 7.5 points and 2.8 rebounds.
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WASHINGTON STATE
G Dylan Darling, soph. (Central Valley)
G Parker Gerrits, fr. (Olympia)
F Isaac Jones, fifth (Orting, Wenatchee Valley, Idaho) — An All-Pac-12 first-team selection in his first season with the Cougars, Jones paces WSU in both scoring (15.4 points per game) and rebounding (7.4), and has added 1.5 assists and 1 block per contest. Has appeared in all 33 games for the Cougars this winter, starting 32.
G Jabe Mullins, sr. (Mount Si, St. Mary’s)
G Ben Olesen, R-sr. (Jackson, Washington State, Bellevue College)
G Isaiah Watts, fr. (West Seattle, South Kent)
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