The Forgotten Man Is Coming Back: Casey Jones' Return Has David Riley Buzzing
Casey Jones has been gone for months, serving a Mormon mission far from the basketball court. But David Riley just made it crystal clear to us: the plan is still very much locked in. Jones is coming home this summer, and he's going to be a huge part of the Cougar basketball program's future. Riley got exclusive about it on Tuesday, and man, does he sound genuinely excited about what Jones is bringing back with him.
The Mission Mindset
Here's what makes this wild: Riley gets emails every Monday with updates on Jones and what he's doing out there. "It's really cool kind of being this close to someone that's on a Mormon mission," Riley told us. "I'm learning about that religion and what they're doing." The head coach can see the growth happening in real time, and he's convinced Jones is going to return as a better person. That's the kind of development you can't manufacture in a gym.
The timeline hasn't budged. Jones will be done with his mission late summer and is slated to redshirt next season, with his final year of eligibility coming in 2027-28. "He has a championship mindset," Riley said. "He helps practices a lot. He's a dog out there. He's going to make it a little nasty every day in practice."
What Jones Brings to the Table
You have to remember who we're talking about here. In his last season before the mission, Jones averaged 12.6 points and 4.4 rebounds while shooting 54.7 percent from two and 36.2 percent from deep on 58 attempts. He led Eastern in steals with 33 and earned a spot on the Big Sky All-Defensive team. He was also named second-team All-Big Sky. That's a guy who knows how to impact winning basketball.
Whether he redshirts or not once he arrives back on campus, Riley is convinced he'll make the squad better. "We're going to stick with the plan of him redshirting, and we'll have that conversation when he gets back," Riley said. The Cougar basketball program is banking on having that dog back on the practice floor soon.
Portal Moves Shake Up the Roster
While Jones is on the way in, some pieces are heading out the door. Kase Wynott and Eemeli Yalaho are both expected to enter the transfer portal when it opens April 7. Wynott, a 6-6 guard from Lapwai, Idaho, suffered a season-ending injury in late November after appearing in just five games. Yalaho, a 6-8 junior from Finland, had a solid year with 10.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game while shooting 39.8 percent from deep. He started 27 of the 32 games he appeared in. Riley has nothing but respect for both guys and understands the business side of it. "Two guys who I really love and care about," Riley said, noting that Yalaho has a chance to "make some life-changing money in the portal."
With those departures plus other roster movement, the Cougs now have five open spots to fill heading into next season. The question is whether they can make noise once Jones gets back in the mix.
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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.