Latest news with #WesleyYates
Reuters
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Top USC scorer Desmond Claude transfers to Washington
June 9 - Senior guard Desmond Claude, who led Southern California in scoring last season, said Sunday that he will be joining the Washington program. The 6-foot-6 Claude averaged 15.8 points, 4.2 assists and 3.5 rebounds in 33 games (32 starts) last season. He reportedly chose the Huskies over Alabama and Gonzaga. Claude announced his decision on Instagram. "After a long and thorough process of evaluating each school recruiting me, I have decided to sign at the University of Washington," Claude wrote. "I am a firm believer with the recruiting class coming in and the returning players, we can compete with the very best, which was very important to me. "I am excited to get to work with my new teammates and staff in Seattle Husky. Go Dawgs!!" The decision by Claude means both of USC's top two players transferred to Washington. Wesley Yates, who was second with a 14.1 scoring average and shot a stellar 43.9 percent from 3-point range as a freshman last season, announced his move to the Huskies in April. Last season was Claude's only one with the Trojans. He played his first two seasons at Xavier and enjoyed a breakout season in 2023-24 when he averaged 16.6 points and was named Big East Most Improved Player. Washington (13-18, 4-16 Big Ten) finished last in the 18-team Big Ten last season under first-year coach Danny Sprinkle. --Field Level Media
USA Today
08-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
USC men's basketball endures coaching staff change with transfer portal open
USC men's basketball endures coaching staff change with transfer portal open Quincy Pondexter reportedly left USC on his own, not tied to Wesley Yates, but we will see what happens in the coming weeks. Last week, USC men's basketball's 2024-2025 season came to an end with a loss to Villanova in the second round of the College Basketball Crown. Now, the Trojans have already gotten started on next season, dealing with a notable change to their coaching staff. On Monday, it was reported that assistant coach Quincy Pondexter will not return to USC's coaching staff in 2025-2026. There is plenty of speculation surrounding this move. It might have been forced internally, but the more likely outcome is that Pondexter was making his own decision to leave. It is worth noting that Wesley Yates, who recently entered the transfer portal with an intent to leave USC, is Pondexter's cousin. Kentucky has been mentioned as a potential landing spot for Yates. One wonders if Pondexter would follow him to Lexington should UK coach Mark Pope close a deal to bring Yates to Rupp Arena. USC basketball is in a precarious place, with Wesley Yates being a significant portal loss. Yates was a proven scorer who, had he stayed, would have enabled Eric Musselman to be able to recruit more on defense and rebounding in the paint. Now the Trojans probably need another high-end offensive piece. The offseason is not hitting its target, and Musselman has to find a way to make up for these developments. He also has to hire an assistant coach who is able to add appreciable value to the USC program.
USA Today
31-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Wesley Yates III discusses USC's struggles at home
Wesley Yates III discusses USC's struggles at home Wesley Yates of USC basketball did not pull punches when asked about the Trojans' inability to consistently win at home. It has not been the best season at home for USC men's basketball. Following Monday night's Crosstown Showdown loss to UCLA, the Trojans dropped to 9-5 at Galen Center on the season. On the contrary, USC is 3-1 on the road this season, including an upset of a top-20 Illinois team. For whatever reason, the Trojans seem to play better basketball away from Los Angeles than they do at home. Following Monday's loss, redshirt freshman guard Wesley Yates III was asked about this discrepancy. "When we play at home, we've gotta be even more focused," Yates III said. "We expect the crowd to be there every game, but we're not producing. "Who's gonna wanna come watch us if we're not producing? So I feel like as long as we stay focused, it'll help us a lot." The Trojans are back in action Saturday afternoon at Galen Center against No. 7 Michigan State. Following that, they will hit the road for a two-game trip to face Northwestern and No. 10 Purdue.
