UW Football: Huskies Land Commitment For Another Top Player Through Transfer Portal

Washington added another piece to its roster today with Rhode Island’s Luis Kortright’s pledge via the transfer portal. He started 31 games for the Rams last season and averaged 10.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. He has one season of eligibility left.

Kortright was an unrated recruit coming out of high school in the Bronx despite receiving all-state accolades and averaged 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game as a senior. He ended up at Quinnipiac, where he was a key contributor off the bench, averaging 10.3 points and 2.7 assists per game and making the MAAC All-Rookie team.

Kortright’s playing time decreased significantly in year two due to a huge sophomore slump in which he shot worse across the board, had a lower assist rate, and a higher turnover rate. His stats improved slightly as a junior, with the same scoring totals as his rookie season but a career-high 3.9 assists per game.

Kortright performed well enough that he chose to transfer last summer and join Rhode Island in the Atlantic 10. He quickly took over as starting point guard and put up numbers nearly comparable to his junior year at Quinnipiac in fewer minutes but with more effective shooting splits.

Husky fans saw how difficult it can be when your point guard, Sahvir Wheeler, is unable to space the floor, and Kortright is not an upgrade in that sense. He’s hit nearly 30% from three during his career and has never matched his freshman season, when he shot a career-high 35% from deep. Watching his highlights, you can see he has a unique shooting style in which his legs instinctively kick forward quite a bit, causing him to almost always land off balance and lean backwards.

Kortright’s major issue is that he was not a strong two-point shooter for much of his career. He had never made more than 42% of his two-pointers until this past season at Rhode Island, when he increased that number to 51%, giving him an above-average offensive rating for the first time. When he is shut down in the lane, Kortright likes to try the step back fade away one-footed free throw line shot, which looks cool but is difficult to execute consistently.

 

 

It’s possible that there’s a more efficient version of Kortright within his statistical profile. Last season, he struggled with off-the-dribble jumpers, making just 21%, which was worse than his three-point shooting. These jumpers constituted a significant portion of his overall play. While it’s natural for a ball-handler to take such shots occasionally, Coach Sprinkle might improve Kortright’s game by encouraging him to pass more instead of relying on those instinctive jumpers.

However, Kortright shines when he drives to the basket. He had a career-high 60% success rate with layups last season, ranking well nationally. His ability to draw fouls, with a free throw rate ranging from 35-50%, adds another dimension to his game, despite his average free throw shooting.

Although Kortright demonstrates good passing skills, he’s not exceptional in that aspect. It took him some time to fully embrace point guard responsibilities, but he performed well in conference play last season, averaging 4.3 assists and 1.9 turnovers per game. While not strictly a pass-first guard, he leans more towards traditional point guard play than being a combo guard.

Defensively, Kortright’s size is an asset, standing at 6’3″ and 200 pounds. He has been average in defending points per possession over the past two seasons, suggesting he should hold his own against tougher competition this season. His rebounding stats are also typical for a point guard of his stature.

With Kortright joining Washington, their guard recruitment for the upcoming season seems complete. While he may start, it’s more likely that freshman Zoom Diallo will initially take the starting spot, with Kortright as his backup. Washington seems to prioritize guards with passing ability and decent size.

However, shooting remains a concern for the team. Playing time could hinge on who can provide better floor spacing. While the freshmen have three-point range, neither has a reputation as a sharpshooter from high school. Davis and Rice have shown better three-point shooting in the past, but they need to improve from their recent lows to prevent opponents from packing the paint.

Washington still has three scholarships available and is awaiting news from Great Osobor, who recently visited Seattle on an official visit.