NCAA Basketball: 10 best players from state of Washington of last decade

8. CJ Elleby – Washington State

Elleby was an impressive talent as a high schooler but didn’t exactly receive national attention. This 6’6 forward from Seattle drew the focus of a number of in-state schools, eventually heading to Washington State to play for the Cougars. He played as a freshman during Ernie Kent’s final season before emerging even further under new coach Kyle Smith.

That freshman campaign was certainly solid, as Elleby averaged 14.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. The Cougars finished near the bottom of the conference standings in both of his collegiate seasons, but it was hard to blame Elleby. His sophomore season under a new coaching staff saw him average 18.4 points and 7.8 rebounds, scoring a career-high 34 points in a rivalry win over Washington. He slid into the role of top scorer for the Cougars, with a 30-point effort in his final career game, a win over Colorado.

Elleby received All-Freshman honors before being named All-Pac-12 First Team as a sophomore. That season saw him lead the conference in steals while finishing among the top shooters in the league. His contributions all over the court were certainly appreciated even while his Cougars struggled to a .500 record. Following that success, Elleby departed for the NBA, becoming a late second-round pick of the nearby Portland Trailblazers.