UW Basketball Needs a Stretch Big, and Drew Fielder Might Be the Answer

The University of Washington basketball program is in serious roster trouble heading into next season, and Danny Sprinkle's staff is moving fast to fix it. With Franck Kepnang headed to the transfer portal, Hannes Steinbach chasing NBA dreams, and Mady Traore recovering from foot surgery, the Huskies are desperately searching for another big man or two. Even worse, they need reliable 3-point shooting. So naturally, they've zeroed in on a guy who can do both: 6-foot-11 Drew Fielder from Boise State. UW brought him to Montlake for a visit last weekend, and this could be the kind of move that changes the ceiling of next year's team.

The Perfect Fit on Paper

Fielder is exactly what the Huskies are hunting for. He's got the height you want in a big man, plus he can absolutely stroke it from deep. His 40.9 percent 3-point shooting percentage (38 of 93 attempts) at Boise State is the kind of weapon that makes a modern offense hum. In just one season with the Broncos, he averaged 14.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, shooting 54.7 percent overall while starting 30 of 32 games for a team that went 20-12. That's elite efficiency, and Sprinkle knows it.

A Veteran Traveler With Serious Upside

Fielder has already been around the block. He played two seasons at Georgetown before heading home to Boise State this past winter. High school took him from Rocky Mountain High in his hometown of Boise, Idaho, to Southern California Academy in Northridge, California. He originally committed to Providence before switching to Georgetown, so he's used to making moves and proving himself at new stops.

At Boise State, Fielder turned heads with his offensive arsenal. He had 10 games of 20 points or more, including a 33-point explosion in an 86-77 win over San Diego State, where he shot 7 of 10 overall, 3 of 4 from three, and knocked down 16 of 18 free throws while grabbing 9 rebounds off the bench. In another game against Chaminade in Hawaii, he put up 27 points and 14 boards in a 102-76 victory. His best 3-point night was 5 for 6 in an 86-83 overtime loss to UNLV in Boise.

At Georgetown, he was a 31-game starter in 2025 with a season-high 20 points against Coppin State and six double-figure outings. As a freshman, he appeared in 32 games with just two starts, scoring a season-best 16 points against Notre Dame on 5-for-7 shooting, including 4 for 5 from three.

The Competition

UW isn't alone in the hunt. Nebraska is also targeting Fielder hard in what's shaping up to be a serious transfer portal battle between the two programs. The Huskies need to make this one count.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.