Jerone Morton Is Leaving Washington State, And It's A Gut Punch For Wazzu Fans
Okay, Wazzu faithful, grab a cold one and brace yourselves, because we’ve got some tough news straight out of the transfer portal. Former Washington State guard Jerone Morton, who was a key part of the Cougars’ recent success, is now officially looking for a new home. Not only that, but he’s scheduled to visit Kentucky this Friday, according to Jacob Polacheck of KSR+!
Man, this one stings, especially after what he brought to the table last season. Morton, a 6-foot-4 guard, first came out west to play for the Cougars in the West Coast Conference for the 2025-26 season. Before that, he spent two years at Morehead State. Now, with just one year of eligibility left, he’s exploring his options, with DePaul, George Mason, and Texas A&M also reportedly reaching out.
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From Kentucky Kid To Cougar Star
Morton’s journey to Pullman was an interesting one. He’s actually a central Kentucky native, a star at George Rogers Clark High School in Winchester, KY. He led his GRC team to a Sweet 16 championship in 2022, earning tournament MVP honors, and a runner-up finish in 2023. As a senior in 2022-23, he put up some serious numbers, averaging 19.8 points and 6.6 rebounds on 52.4 percent shooting.
He started his college career at Morehead State, and after a quiet freshman year in 2023-24 where he averaged 2.2 points in 34 games, his sophomore season in 2024-25 saw a massive leap. Morton started 20 of 26 games, boosting his averages to 10.4 points, 3.4 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 29.5 minutes. His shooting splits jumped too, hitting 45.0% from the field, 37.7% from three, and 72.0% from the line. He dropped 14 double-digit scoring games, including two 20-point outings, like an 18-point, seven-assist, four-rebound effort in a 70-69 overtime win against UT Martin. That big jump in production led him to look for a bigger stage, and that’s when new Washington State head coach David Riley snagged him as his first portal addition last offseason, beating out Marshall, Western Kentucky, and Indiana State.
What He Brought To Washington State
During his one season with the Cougars in 2025-26, Morton was a steady presence, starting 29 of 32 games. He averaged 7.8 points, 2.6 assists, and 1.9 rebounds in 24.9 minutes, with solid shooting splits of 43.8% from the field, 38.8% from deep, and 82.0% from the free-throw line. We saw flashes of brilliance, including 16 points and 15 points in two matchups against Gonzaga, plus a nine-point, nine-assist game against St. Mary’s.
Advanced stats from his WSU season show his value. He graded in the 85th percentile among all guards for three-point shooting and the 88th percentile for his assist/turnover ratio of 2.22. He’s a low-usage player, sure, but he knows how to create when the ball’s in his hands. He shot over 50 percent on threes from the right side of the floor and drained 37 percent of his 61 NBA-range triples. Defensively, he was a solid steals and blocks guy for a guard, even if overall metrics weren't his strong suit. Now, he's looking to carry that versatile skillset somewhere else.
So, Cougar fans, it’s a tough pill to swallow. Jerone Morton gave us some great moments, and it’s always tough to see a productive player move on. We’ll be watching closely to see where he lands for his final year. What kind of impact will he make at his next stop?
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.