Jeff Borzello, ESPN Staff Writer 8y

Top-50 prospect Jaylen Nowell commits to Washington

Men's College Basketball, Washington Huskies

Fresh off two first-round picks in last week's NBA draft, Lorenzo Romar is building up Washington once again.

Top-50 prospect Jaylen Nowell committed to the Huskies on Wednesday.

"You can't ignore the success of their players that they've been sending to the league," Nowell told ESPN. "The team is going to be very good by the time I get there, and most importantly, this is my town. I have to put on for my city.

Nowell, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Garfield High School (Washington), is ranked No. 45 in the ESPN 100. California and Oregon were among the other schools pursuing Nowell.

Despite the talent going through the Washington program, the Huskies haven't been to the NCAA tournament since 2011. But after Marquese Chriss and Dejounte Murray were drafted last week and last fall's signing of elite guard Markelle Fultz, Nowell feels good about the direction of the program.

 "If I didn't have any confidence in them at all, I would still have all the confidence in the world now," he said. "I trust the coaching staff at Washington and I wouldn't feel right anywhere else."

Washington doesn't have any other commits in the 2017 class -- as four-star guard Daejon Davis (No. 39) decommitted in April after originally pledging to the Huskies last August.

In an interesting twist, Nowell and Davis are teammates in the Seattle Rotary AAU program.

"I've always been the dude to let them make their own decision," Nowell said. "If he wants to come here, that'll be great. But if he feels that there is a better place for him, I will be happy for him."

 Nowell averaged 20.2 points during the spring Nike EYBL circuit, including 29.3 points in his final three games in May.

 "I feel like I can make a huge impact on both ends of the floor," Nowell said. "I feel that I am an all-around player and that I can do whatever they need me to do in order to win."

 Expect Washington to continue pursuing the five-star tandem of Michael Porter Jr. and Trae Young, who play together with MoKan Elite on the AAU circuit. Romar hired Porter's father last month as an assistant coach.

^ Back to Top ^