Jerone Morton's WSU Exit: Why David Riley's Cougs Are About To Feel The Burn
Alright, Cougar faithful, buckle up because the transfer portal drama just smacked Pullman right in the face! Our man, Jerone Morton, the Washington State guard we watched rock the West Coast Conference, is officially on the move! Jacob Polacheck of KSR+ just dropped the bomb: Morton's set to visit Kentucky this Friday. Yeah, you heard that right, the Bluegrass State. This is a tough pill to swallow for Wazzu.
From GRC Star to Wazzu Standout: Morton's Wild Ride
This isn't just some random name, folks. Morton, a central Kentucky native, started his college career at Morehead State for two seasons before making his way out west to play for the Cougars in the WCC for the 2025-26 season. He was a high school star, leading George Rogers Clark in Winchester, KY, to a Sweet 16 championship in 2022, even snagging the tournament MVP award! He followed that up with a runner-up finish in 2023. As a senior, he was dropping 19.8 points and grabbing 6.6 boards per game on 52.4 percent shooting. Wild!
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He was lightly recruited out of high school, landing at Morehead State. His freshman year in 2023-24, he appeared in 34 games, starting two, averaging 2.2 points and 1.3 rebounds in 12.9 minutes on just 31.1 percent shooting. But then, his sophomore year in 2024-25? BOOM! He made a huge leap. Morton started 20 of his 26 games, boosting his per-game numbers to 10.4 points, 3.4 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 29.5 minutes. His shooting splits jumped big time too: 45.0/37.7/72.0. He even had 14 double-digit scoring games, including two 20-point explosions, and went for 18 points, seven assists, and four boards in an overtime win against UT Martin. That production is what brought him to Coach David Riley's new Wazzu squad as their first portal addition last offseason. For the Cougars in 2025-26, he started 29 of 32 games, averaging 7.8 points, 2.6 assists, and 1.9 rebounds in 24.9 minutes, with shooting splits of 43.8/38.8/82.0. He even hit Gonzaga for 16 and 15 points in two matchups, and dished out nine assists to go with nine points against St. Mary's.
The Numbers Don't Lie: What Wazzu Is Really Losing
When you dive into the advanced stats, Morton's a real threat. His three-point shooting graded out in the 85th percentile among all guards, and he was rocking an 88th percentile assist/turnover ratio of 2.22, according to CBB Analytics. He wasn't a high-usage guy, only 16.6 percent, but he knew how to get points when the ball was in his hands. He was particularly good from mid-range and above-the-break threes, shooting over 50 percent from the right side of the floor on threes. Out of 61 triples from NBA range, he knocked them down at a 37 percent clip, proving his deep shooting value. Interestingly, only 45.2 percent of his threes last season came off an assist from a teammate. Defensively, he was solid on steals and blocks for a guard, but his overall defensive metrics weren't as hot, with his DRAPM at -3.4 and Defensive Win Shares at 0.03, ranking in the 2nd and 20th percentile respectively. He actually made a bigger impact on the offensive glass than the defensive side.
So, what's next? Morton's got other programs like DePaul, George Mason, and Texas A&M reaching out, and with one year of eligibility remaining, he's searching for that perfect spot. For Coach Riley and the Cougs, this is a gut punch, no doubt. Losing a guard who can shoot threes, dish dimes, and has proven he can step into a starting role is a massive hole to fill. You gotta wonder how they'll bounce back from this. We'll be keeping an eye on where Morton lands, but more importantly, how our local Wazzu squad rebuilds their backcourt for next season. This is gonna be a wild one, folks!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.