Casey Jones Is Coming Back: WSU Coach David Riley Reveals the Plan for the Forgotten Cougar
Casey Jones has been thousands of miles away, serving on a Mormon mission while the rest of college basketball moved on. But Washington State coach David Riley wants you to know: the plan hasn't changed. Jones is coming back this summer, and he's going to make an impact.
In an exclusive interview with Cougfan.com on Tuesday, Riley confirmed that Jones will return from his mission in late summer and rejoin the Cougar basketball program. The original timeline stands: Jones will redshirt next season and play his final year in 2027-28. Riley gets updates every Monday about Jones' growth and what he's learning on his mission, and he's genuinely excited about what the guy will bring back to Pullman.
A Champion's Mindset, Even From Afar
"He gets done with his mission late summer and I get emails on what he's been doing every Monday," Riley told Cougfan.com. "It's really cool kind of being this close to someone that's on a Mormon mission and I'm learning about that religion and what they're doing. And it's cool to see how he's grown and how he's helping other people right now."
Riley doesn't sugarcoat it: Jones is a dog in practice. He brings edge, discipline, and a championship mentality that Riley values. The coach expects Jones will be a major contributor when he steps foot back on the court, whether he redshirts or not. "He has a championship mindset. He helps practices a lot. He's a dog out there. He's going to make it a little nasty every day in practice," Riley said.
What Jones Did Before the Mission
Before stepping away, Jones left his mark. In 2023-24, his last season with Eastern, he averaged 12.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game over 26.6 minutes, shooting 54.7 percent from two-point range and 36.2 percent from three. He led Eastern in steals with 33 and earned All-Big Sky honors, including a spot on the Big Sky All-Defensive team as a second-team selection.
Now, the Cougars are waiting for him to return a better version of himself. And based on what Riley is hearing every Monday, that's exactly what's going to happen.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.