That 2.22 Assist-Turnover Ratio? Washington State Just Let That Walk!

Alright, Cougars fans, gather 'round, because this one stings a bit. We've got big news shaking up the local college hoops scene, and it's not the kind that makes you want to chug a celebratory pint. Our guy, Washington State guard Jerone Morton, is officially hitting the transfer portal. Yeah, you heard that right. A key piece of the Cougs' backcourt from last season, gone. He's even got a visit to Kentucky scheduled for this Friday, with DePaul, George Mason, and Texas A&M also in the mix. Losing talent always hurts, especially when it's a player who showed some serious flashes of brilliance in Pullman.

From Morehead State Grit to WSU Sparkplug

Let's rewind a sec and look at this kid's journey. Morton, a central Kentucky native, kicked off his college career at Morehead State, grinding it out for two seasons. As a freshman in 2023-24, he played in 34 games, starting two, averaging 2.2 points and 1.3 rebounds. But his sophomore year? Man, he took a massive leap! In 2024-25, he started 20 of 26 games, bumping his numbers to 10.4 points, 3.4 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game. He even dropped 18 points with seven assists in an overtime win against UT Martin. That kind of production screams "bigger opportunity," and new WSU head coach David Riley snagged him as their first portal addition last offseason. Morton chose the Cougars over schools like Marshall and Indiana State, which felt like a win for the Emerald City. In his one season here, 2025-26, he started 29 of 32 games, putting up 7.8 points, 2.6 assists, and 1.9 rebounds. He even h

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ad a 16-point and a 15-point game against Gonzaga, plus a sweet nine-point, nine-assist outing against St. Mary's. We saw the grit, we saw the potential.

The Numbers That Tell the Real Story

Here's where it gets interesting, and why this stings for Washington State. Morton might be ranked 508th overall in the portal by On3, but his advanced stats from his time with the Cougars tell a different story. This dude was legit from deep, grading out in the 85th percentile among all guards for three-point shooting. Even wilder? His assist-to-turnover ratio was a sparkling 2.22, putting him in the 88th percentile! That's a low-usage player, just 16.6 percent, who still found ways to make buckets and set up his teammates. He hit over 50 percent on his threes from the right side of the floor, and knocked down 37 percent of his 61 NBA-range triples. He's a certified deep shooting threat, no doubt about it. Yeah, his defensive metrics weren't exactly sparkling, with a DRAPM of -3.4 and defensive win shares of 0.03, ranking in the 2nd and 20th percentile respectively. But you can coach defense. You can't always coach that kind of offensive efficiency and three-point touch. He's got one year of eligibility left, and someone's getting a serious offensive weapon. So, what's next? Morton's taking that Kentucky visit, and other big-name schools are knocking. For Washington State, losing a player with that kind of offensive upside, especially that sweet assist-turnover ratio, means Coach Riley has some serious work ahead to fill the void. Keep your eyes peeled, because this story isn't over for Jerone Morton, and it's a big moment for his career.

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