Former USC star Desmond Claude commits to UW men’s basketball team

Senior guard Luis Kortright defends USC guard Desmond Claude on Dec. 7th, 2024 in Seattle. Claude announced a commitment to Washington on June 8.
Isabel Hanchett

Early Sunday morning, it was announced that junior guard Desmond Claude committed to the Washington men’s basketball team.

The junior was ranked as the No. 31 overall player in the transfer portal and No. 20 ranked guard according to 247sports.

Claude spent last season with USC and had a stellar year, averaging 15.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. Claude spent his first two seasons at Xavier where he earned the Big East Most Improved Player in 2023-2024 after averaging 16.6 points per game. In 2022-2023 he was a member of the All-Big East Freshman Team.

Last season, Claude dominated UW in both of USC’s victories. The guard averaged 22.5 points, 7.5 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game against the Huskies.

Claude becomes the third former Trojan to jump ship and join the Huskies this offseason, joining freshman guard Wesley Yates and assistant coach Quincy Pondexter. Claude and Yates combined for almost 30 points per game last season for USC and were the team’s top-two leading scorers.

After losing guard Mekhi Mason and forward Tyler Harris to the transfer portal, Claude provides a much-needed wing presence to a Washington team that has seemingly improved at every position from a year ago.

Claude joins forward Bryson Tucker as the two wing additions for UW in the transfer portal. Washington also added top-100 recruit, forward Jasir Rencher.

Reach reporter Danny Williams at sports@dailyuw.com. X: @danny_w22

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