Wesley Yates III commits to Washington

Kentucky has turned elsewhere for more shooting.

Wesley Yates III is heading back to where his college journey began.

The former USC wing has committed to Washington, giving the Huskies a major boost as they retool their roster under new head coach Danny Sprinkle.

Yates made the announcement on Twitter.

Yates, a 6-foot-4, 219-pound guard from Beaumont (TX) recently entered the transfer portal with a “do-not-contact” tag, indicating that his next move was already in motion. On Thursday, his decision became public: he’s rejoining the Huskies, a program he originally committed to out of high school in the class of 2023.

After he redshirted his freshman season at Washington due to a foot injury, Yates transferred to USC the following year, where he played a key role in the Trojans’ offense. Under the guidance of assistant coach Quincy Pondexter — his cousin — Yates blossomed, averaging 14.1 points per game on 48/44/80 shooting splits.

Pondexter is potentially returning to Washington’s staff, which could give Yates the chance to once again play under a familiar voice and family mentor. Their bond and shared history with the Huskies make the pairing a natural fit as Washington looks to climb back into Pac-12 prominence.

While schools like Kentucky showed interest — reportedly even scheduling a Zoom meeting with Yates — his deep ties to Washington and the possible opportunity to reunite with Pondexter ultimately sealed the deal.