Washington Basketball: Why Great Osobor is the most important team transfer for 2024-25

There hasn’t been much of note for Washington basketball in recent years, though the Huskies are turning a new leaf this offseason. A program with just one trip to the NCAA Tournament in the last twelve years not only transitions into new life in the Big Ten but hired a new head coach. Former Utah State coach Danny Sprinkle has quite the challenge ahead, but is there potential for these Huskies in the near future?

Last year’s team won 17 games and finish 6th in the Pac-12, though much of that talent isn’t around anymore. Keion Brooks had a brilliant final collegiate season, averaging more than 21 points per game, while transfers like Sahvir Wheeler and Paul Mulcahy had decent run with the Huskies. All of those players are gone and that’s not the end, as most of Washington’s production will be replaced. Senior center Franck Kepnang (who played just ten games last season) and fellow big man Wilhelm Breidenbach are the most prominent returners.

This new coaching staff wasted little time settling in by raiding the Transfer Portal to build a new roster. The Huskies grabbed several backcourt pieces, including Butler guard DJ Davis, former North Dakota guard Tyree Ihenacho and Mekhi Mason, who spent last season at Rice. Washington added several other faces, including former Portland forward Tyler Harris and KC Ibekwe, a backup center at former conference rival Oregon State.

There’s zero doubt that Great Osobor is the most important of these additions, as the 6’8 forward follows his coach for the second time in his career. Osobor was a solid backup as an underclassman at Montana State under Sprinkle before following him to Utah State as a junior. This past season saw Osobor burst onto the national scene, putting up 17.7 points and 9.0 rebounds a game while guiding the Aggies to an unexpected regular season title in a deep MWC.

Osobor was named MWC Player of the Year last season and now becomes the backbone for a new system at Washington. He’s receiving a hefty NIL payout to spend his senior season at Seattle, but the Huskies are getting one fantastic player. He’s a menace on the boards, has talent as a rim protector, shot nearly 60% from inside the arc, and does all the little things you expect of a prominent center. How he’ll adjust from the MWC to the Big Ten remains to be seen but Osobor showcased all the little things during his year at Utah State.

There’s obviously the other factor being that Osobor is very familiar with Sprinkle’s coaching style. Washington has a hodgepodge of talent all over this roster, with this rotation pieced together in recent months. Osobor is the real spark and his interior play in itself could lead the Huskies to wins this upcoming season. A lot will depend on if he can take another measured step forward now playing power conference basketball, though he’s already handled one step up in talent.

All things considered, it’s probably premature to lobby great expectations on this Washington squad. There’s potential to surprise people, though Osobor alone won’t get the job done in the Big Ten. Can he be one of the best big men in this league? Do the Huskies have enough talent at the other spots on the floor to be realistic contenders in their brand new conference?