Washington State Lands East Texas A&M Scorer in Transfer Portal Move

Washington State basketball is loading up again. The Cougars just locked in East Texas A&M forward Ronnie Harrison via the transfer portal, marking the fourth major addition coach David Riley has brought in this offseason. This is the kind of move that signals the program is serious about competing next season.

Who is Ronnie Harrison?

Harrison is a 6-foot-8, 210-pound forward who started his college career at Tarleton State before landing at East Texas A&M last season. The Dallas area native put up solid numbers in a starting role: 14.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game in 30 minutes while starting 28 of 30 contests. He was efficient inside the arc too, shooting 53% on two-pointers. That's exactly the kind of floor spacing and scoring punch a modern college program needs.

Here is the thing though, Harrison shot just 30% from three-point range, so he is not a pure sharpshooter. But he is a natural scorer from everywhere else on the court, especially around the basket where he played primarily power forward and center spots for the Lions and became their top scorer quickly.

Two-Way Player Fits the Mold

Beyond the offense, Harrison brings defensive versatility. He averaged 0.7 blocks and 1.2 steals per game, using his athleticism and long wingspan to rotate over, swat shots, and poke away balls in passing lanes. That two-way acumen is exactly what Riley and his staff covet in a transfer addition.

Harrison fits naturally alongside the other scorers Riley has brought in this spring: TCU transfer RJ Jones and Central Missouri transfer guard Lazerek Houston, who averaged over 20 points as a true freshman last season. The Cougars also added Manhattan transfer Fraser Roxburgh earlier in the offseason.

Replacing 12 Departures

Harrison arrives at a critical moment. Washington State is replacing 12 players from last season, including 10 to the transfer portal. With Harrison in the fold, the Cougars now have seven players on their 2026-27 roster: Houston, Roxburgh, Jones, Eastern Washington transfer Casey Jones, incoming freshman Brayden Kyman, and returners Dominik Robinson and walk-on guard Dio Blakely. Only Robinson and Blakely are back from last year's team, making this essentially a rebuilding project. Harrison's scoring ability and defensive potential could accelerate that timeline.

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