The Danny Sprinkle Era for Washington basketball kicked off with an exhilarating start, as the Huskies celebrated their first victory of the 2024-25 college basketball season on Tuesday evening. Under the bright lights in Seattle, the team showcased their determination, fending off a potential upset from the spirited UC Davis Aggies. The standout player of the night was none other than Great Osobor, who made his debut in a Huskies uniform and left quite the impression. With a remarkable stat line—15 points from 4-for-8 shooting, 17 rebounds, six steals, and two blocks over 38 minutes—he led the team to a hard-fought 79-73 win.
After the game, the Huskies took to social media to celebrate Osobor’s achievement, noting that he had become the first player in a major conference to post such a stat line—at least 15 points, 17 rebounds, and 6 steals—since Blake Griffin dazzled fans during his time at Oklahoma. It’s moments like these that create a buzz among fans and showcase the potential of new talent on the court.
Osobor is carving out his own path as a third college player after starting his journey at Montana State. He then moved to Utah State for the 2023-24 season, embracing the opportunity to grow and excel under Sprinkle’s mentorship. His contributions were pivotal, helping the program clinch a spot in the 2024 National Tournament as a No. 8 seed. Fans can recall the pride of watching Utah State upset No. 9 TCU in the first round, before their valiant run came to an end against the formidable Purdue Boilermakers and the towering Zach Edey in the second round.
Originally hailing from England, Osobor made the transition to American college basketball, entering the transfer portal last April and choosing Washington as the place to make his senior year memorable. Last season at Utah State, he averaged a solid 17.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, along with contributing an impressive 1.3 steals and 1.4 blocks each game—a reflection of his all-around skill set that he has now brought to the Huskies.
While the season started on a jubilant note, the Huskies are well aware that there’s room for improvement. Despite securing the win against UC Davis, several performance areas still need fine-tuning. One glaring weakness was their three-point shooting, where they only managed a dismal 2-for-14 against a team that had been considered a significant underdog, as noted by sportsbooks predicting a 15.5-point gap.
Osobor himself could have enhanced his scoring if he had capitalized on free-throw opportunities, converting just 7 out of 16 attempts. Additionally, he accumulated nine turnovers and recorded four personal fouls, which certainly caught the attention of Sprinkle, who has high expectations for his players. Post-game, Sprinkle candidly assessed Osobor’s overall performance with a touch of tough love. “He knows me and I know him better than anybody, and I would say C-minus,” he remarked, as reported by Percy Allen of The Seattle Times. “Despite the impressive stats, he missed nine free throws. I’m really proud of his 17 rebounds because he was in there battling.”
This kind of constructive criticism is vital in the world of sports. Coaches like Sprinkle understand the journey that their athletes are on—where every struggle is a lesson, and every performance is an opportunity for growth. Fans will be eagerly watching as the Huskies continue their season, hoping to build on this foundational win and tying up those loose ends for a promising ride ahead. They know there’s a lot at stake, and if the chemistry comes together, Osobor and his teammates could lead Washington to new heights.
