UW Floodgates Are Open: Diallo Latest to Declare Portal Intentions

Sophomore guard Zoom Diallo becomes third Husky player to enter transfer portal in a week

Apr. 3, 2026 at 11:24pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a college basketball game, with players and the court broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and shape, reflecting the instability and flux in the sport.The transfer portal era has led to a wave of player departures, leaving college basketball programs like the University of Washington to navigate a rapidly shifting landscape.Washington Today

The University of Washington men's basketball team has seen a wave of players entering the transfer portal, with sophomore guard Zoom Diallo becoming the latest to declare his intentions to leave the program. Diallo, the Huskies' second-leading scorer, joins freshman guards JJ Mandaquit and Courtland Muldrew as recent departures, raising questions about head coach Danny Sprinkle's coaching style and the impact of the new rules around player movement in college basketball.

Why it matters

The loss of key players like Diallo is a significant blow to the Huskies' roster and raises concerns about the program's stability and ability to retain talent. The high rate of player turnover also highlights the broader challenges facing college basketball programs as the transfer portal and NIL deals reshape the landscape of the sport.

The details

Diallo, a 6-foot-4 sophomore guard from Tacoma, averaged 15.7 points per game this past season and was one of just two players to appear in all 33 games for the Huskies. He had emerged as a key contributor, scoring 20 points or more in four of the final five games, including a career-best 26 points in a win over USC. However, despite his local ties and increased role, Diallo has decided to enter the transfer portal, leaving the Huskies with significant roster turnover to address.

  • On Friday, Zoom Diallo announced his intention to enter the transfer portal.
  • Earlier this week, freshman guard JJ Mandaquit and freshman guard Courtland Muldrew also entered the transfer portal, marking the third and fourth Husky players to do so in the past week.

The players

Zoom Diallo

A 6-foot-4 sophomore guard from Tacoma, Diallo was the Huskies' second-leading scorer at 15.7 points per game and one of just two players to appear in all 33 games this past season.

Danny Sprinkle

The head coach of the University of Washington men's basketball team, who is facing questions about his coaching style and the program's ability to retain talent amid the recent wave of player departures.

JJ Mandaquit

A freshman guard who also entered the transfer portal, joining Diallo and Courtland Muldrew as recent Husky players to leave the program.

Courtland Muldrew

A freshman guard who was the first Husky player to enter the transfer portal this week, preceding the departures of Diallo and Mandaquit.

Franck Kepnang

A 6-foot-11 center who was one of just two players to return from Sprinkle's first season as head coach, along with Diallo.

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What they’re saying

“Growing up, it was always a dream of mine to play for UW. Being able to wear 'Washington' across my chest is something I'll never take for granted.”

— Zoom Diallo

What’s next

The Huskies will need to address the significant roster turnover and work to rebuild their team for the upcoming season, as they look to retain and attract talent in the new era of college basketball.

The takeaway

The wave of player departures from the University of Washington men's basketball team highlights the challenges facing college programs in the era of the transfer portal and NIL deals. The Huskies will need to find ways to retain and develop talent to remain competitive in the Pac-12 and beyond.