The Washington Huskies men's basketball team had an unprecedented amount of bad luck when it came to the injury front last season.

The Huskies, who already had to completely retool the roster in the offseason (just two players returned from the season before), were down to seven-to-eight scholarship problems in several different games last year.

The injuries extended to freshmen, transfer portal additions and returners alike. One of the players who missed time last year technically fit the definition of both a portal additions and a returner.

Soon-to-be junior guard Wesley Yates III committed to Washington last offseason after spending a year with the Southern California (USC) Trojans. But it wasn't his first time in Montlake.

Yates originally committed to the Huskies out of college for the 2023-24 season, one year before current head coach Danny Sprinkle was hired.

The Beaumont, Texas, native ended up missing his entire freshman season due to injury and took a redshirt season. With the coaching change and having missed the entire year due to injury, Yates opted to head to the Trojans his redshirt freshman season.

In his only year with USC, Yates proved that he could be a capable scorer in the Big Ten. In 33 games (24 starts) with the Trojans, the 6-foot-4, 219-pound shooting guard averaged 14.1 points on 47.8% shooting (43.9% from 3-point range), in addition to 2.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 steals.

Unfortunately for Yates, his injury troubles from his first stint in the Pacific Northwest persisted through his second year.

Yates missed six games due to a broken bone in his wrist he suffered in a game against Seattle University on Dec. 19, 2025.

When Yates returned, he sported a wrap on his shooting hand. Whether it was the cast, lingering issues with the broken bone or unable to regain his rhythm after being out for six games, Yates was unable to regain the level he showed with the Trojans.

In 27 games (25 starts) with Washington last season, Yates averaged 12.7 points on a 37.1% clip from the floor (31.2% from beyond the arc), 3.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.5 steals.

Due to Yates' inefficient shooting numbers, his injury and his past showing with USC as a capable offensive player in the Big Ten, it's hard to properly gauge what expectations for the redshirt junior should be in the '26-27 season.

When Yates was at his best, he was a solid third option behind freshman forward Hannes Steinbach and sophomore guard Zoom Diallo and more than capable of taking the reins on offense.

Yates would have efficient nights, such as his 19-point (7-for-13 from the floor), six-assist, three-rebound, one steal outing against Rutgers on Feb. 24.

In the same breath, Yates also had games such as a 3-for-13, 12-point, three-rebound, one-steal performance against Maryland on Feb. 21.

Even coming off an inefficient season, Yates likely could have commanded some healthy interest in the transfer portal if he opted to enter it.

Instead, the Beaumont, Texas, native was one of six returners to the program from last year. He will enter his second year with the team under Sprinkle and third year with the program overall, making him the most familiar with the surroundings on Montlake.

As such, there are expectations both outwardly and (likely) internally for Yates to be one of the team's top performers next season.

Yates will be the team's starting two-guard, with point guard and transfer portal acquisition Ryan Beasley (San Francisco) currently set to take over primary ball-handling duties.

Yates is still looking for a fully healthy year in the Pacific Northwest. If he's able to stay on the court, his third year on Montlake could end up being the charm.

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