Bryson Tucker Is Leaving Washington for the NBA Draft, and the Huskies' Roster Crisis Just Got Worse
The Huskies lost another player Tuesday. Bryson Tucker, the 6-foot-7 forward from Bowie, Maryland, announced he is declaring for the 2026 NBA draft via social media, posting that he was "thrilled" to make the jump after reflecting on his journey at Washington.
"This moment is a culmination of so many challenges and triumphs, and I could never have made it here alone," Tucker wrote in his announcement.
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👉 Claim Your Free $10 at KalshiA Strange and Injury-Plagued Year in Seattle
Tucker's time with the Huskies was brief and messy. The Indiana transfer started the first three games of the season but suffered an ankle injury against Baylor on November 9 that knocked him out for six games. He returned December 13 as a reserve, slowly worked his way back into the rotation, and made 11 starts in the next 12 games. Then everything fell apart. His production and minutes tanked down the stretch. In his final two UW games, Tucker played just 19 total minutes combined and scored two points with one rebound.
He wasn't even with the team for the final five games of the season. Coach Danny Sprinkle said at the time that Tucker was still on the roster but dealing with a personal matter.
The Numbers and What Comes Next
For the season, Tucker averaged 5.7 points and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 43.6% from the field across 21 games with 14 starts. When he was healthy and engaged, he showed flashes, connecting with teammates on alley-oop dunks and providing some exciting athleticism for the fanbase. But the injuries and personal issues derailed what could have been a bigger impact.
Here's the thing: Tucker is considered a longshot to hear his name called in the NBA draft. Still, he's committed to the process, writing that he's "fully committed to giving everything I have and embracing the challenges of playing at the highest level."
Washington's roster is now down to seven scholarship players. Freshmen standout Hannes Steinbach is also expected to turn pro. The Huskies lost eight players from last season's 16-17 team, including transfers Zoom Diallo, JJ Mandaquit, and Courtland Muldrew. The damage to the program keeps adding up, and Danny Sprinkle has serious work ahead to rebuild this roster.
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