Washington Huskies Point Guard Likely to Return For Season-Opener

SEATTLE — The Washington Huskies men's basketball team is set to open the 2026-27 regular season against the Colgate Red Raiders at 7 p.m. PT on Nov. 2 at Alaska Airlines Arena in Seattle.

When the Huskies open the season, one of the top transfer portal additions and a likely starter for the team will finally be available after missing the preseason to this point.

Fourth-year point guard Ryan Beasley, who's been out for the team's exhibition game losses against the Boise State Broncos and Washington State Cougars with a concussion, is expected to be back in the fold, per head coach Danny Sprinkle.

"I anticipate him playing," Sprinkle said in a news conference Wednesday at Alaska Airlines Arena. "He'll practice (Wednesday) and then have tomorrow off and then, he'll have three days to hopefully prepare and kind of really get himself into shape."

Beasley transferred to Washington this offseason after three years with the San Francisco Dons that saw him develop from a role play to an every-game starter at point guard.

The 5-foot-11, 180-pound point guard, played in the West Coast Conference with the Dons and, although he didn't make the NCAA tournament, competed against consistent NCAA tournament programs such a as the Gonzaga Bulldogs and Saint Mary's Gaels.

Beasley is expected to be a focal point of the current roster, which is shorter in height than previous years under Sprinkle. The San Ramon, Calif., native has already received a significant amount of trust from the third-year head coach despite not playing a game with the team, indicative of how well the point guard already understands the offense.

Last season, Beasley's first as an every-game starter, averaged 13.6 points across 31 games (all starts) on 40.7% shooting from the floor, including a 32.7% mark from 3-point range. He also averaged four assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.2 steals per contest.

Due to the team's small-ball lineup, Beasley might have some help on the court when it comes to managing the offense.

Sprinkle has said that Beasley could share minutes with fifth-year guard and Nevada Wolfpack transfer Tayshawn Comer. Fifth-year wing and Texas Tech transfer LeJuan Watts has also been praised for his playmaking ability and could register time as a "point-forward" in the current offense.

Second-year guard and Rutgers Scarlet Knights transfer Harun Zrno and international commit and first-year college guard Tristan Devers could also factor into the point guard rotation, although the latter of the two is currently dealing with a foot injury, per Sprinkle.