Rather than continue his collegiate career, Bryson Tucker will attempt to go pro
The Washington Huskies men's basketball team has already seen several departures via the transfer portal this spring.
With the players departing via the portal and the seniors who have ran out of eligibility, the Huskies have seven players currently listed on the roster for the 2026-27 season.
There were several players absent from the roster that weren't surprising. Freshman forward Hannes Steinbach appears to be gearing up for a potential pro career and is expected to enter the 2026 NBA Draft.
Shockingly, one of Steinbach's teammates from this past season will be attempting the same.
Sophomore forward Bryson Tucker announced via a statement posted on his Instagram account that he will enter the '26 NBA draft.
The move comes as a shock as Tucker seemed to still have another level he could have reached in the collegiate ranks.
Tucker was listed as the 30th-best prospect in the Class of 2024 according to 247Sports.
The 6-foot-7, 207-pound small forward originally committed to the Indiana Hoosiers out of high school. He played 23 games with Indiana in the '24-25 season and averaged 5.4 points on 37.8% shooting. He also averaged 2.9 rebounds per game.
Washington head coach Danny Sprinkle was able to land Tucker in the transfer portal last offseason.
Tucker dealt with an ankle sprain that kept him out for over a month from early November to mid-December. He missed the final regular season games and the Big Ten tournament due to what Sprinkle described as "personal reasons."
Tucker averaged 5.7 points across 21 games (14 starts) with the Huskies last season on 43.6% shooting. He also brought in 3.9 rebounds per game.
Washington Huskies forward Bryson Tucker grabs a rebound during a game against the Indiana Hoosiers on Jan. 4 at the Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind.Due to injuries to Tucker and other players on the team, he was unable to find his stride in his second year in the Big Ten.
At his best, Tucker showed flashes of amazing athleticism that made him one of the best players in his class and one of the more exciting additions of last offseason for the Huskies.
Tucker's best game in the purple and gold was likely his first against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Nov. 3. He scored 12 points on 5-for-10 shooting and pulled in 10 rebounds. It was his only double-double of the season.
Tucker's talent could put him on the radar of pro teams when it gets time for workout and the combine. If Tucker eventually decides that returning to college for his junior year is the better bet, he has until May 27 to withdraw from the draft, which takes place June 22.
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