The Huskies Are Banking on This 7-Footer to Save Their Season, and He's Finally Getting Healthy
Mady Traore is coming back, and Washington basketball fans should be losing their minds. The 6-foot-11 junior from Dracy, France, just had a screw removed from his left foot after tearing a tendon and going under the knife, and he is about to begin his recovery this month. While most injured players would have checked out mentally, Traore stayed locked in with the team all season long. That is the kind of mentality that matters.
A Guy Who Actually Showed Up
Here is what sets Traore apart from other guys who got hurt and basically vanished: he was everywhere. In pregame warm-ups, he was the one in sweats feeding his teammates for jumpers. Once the game started, he planted himself at the far end of the bench and watched every single play like he was still in uniform. At practice, even while waiting for medical clearance, he was out there getting shots up. That kind of commitment does not go unnoticed.
UW coach Danny Sprinkle gets it. "It's frustrating for me to watch, because you see at 7 foot and our most athletic player, and he's out there making 10 3's in a row at times," Sprinkle said. Translation: this guy is special, and it is killing the coach to keep him sidelined.
The Resume Speaks for Itself, Injuries and All
Traore is not some unknown commodity, even though his path to Seattle has been rocky. At Frank Phillips College in Texas in 2025, he played in 34 games and averaged 13.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Before that, he appeared in a dozen games for Maryland in 2024 and started four times before a season-ending knee injury derailed things. His first college stop was New Mexico State in 2023, where he drew seven games and started once before the team shut down mid-season due to hazing and criminal activity by other players. Not ideal circumstances, but Traore kept his head down and worked.
What makes him dangerous is his length and athleticism. Sprinkle says Traore has a 7-foot, 6-inch wingspan and can play the 3, 4, or 5 spots on the perimeter. "With his length and athleticism, I think he can be a difference-maker," Sprinkle said. The coach also believes Traore could have as many as three seasons left at UW, giving the program serious time to develop him.
The Missing Piece
With highly productive Hannes Steinbach expected to enter the NBA Draft in June after obtaining an agent, Traore could be the answer to fill that void. When he is healthy and fully cleared to play, this French big man has the potential to change how the Huskies operate. Seattle is waiting for the green light.
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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.