Lapwai’s Kase Wynott commits to Washington State

Idaho’s all-time leading basketball scorer, Lapwai star Kase Wynott, is headed to Washington State to continue his hoops career.

The 6-foot-6 guard/forward announced his commitment to the Cougars on Sunday via social media.

Wynott was previously committed to Utah State, but rescinded his commitment after coach Danny Sprinkle left the Aggies for the University of Washington. Wynott was also considering the Huskies or returning his commitment to Utah State, but instead chose to join new WSU coach David Riley and his rebuild in Pullman.

Wynott was one of the most prolific high school scorers in the nation last season for the Wildcats of the Idaho Class 1A Division I’s Whitepine League.

The versatile scorer averaged 36 points per game, which ranked No. 5 in the country, according to MaxPreps. He also tallied 13.9 rebounds and 9.1 assists per contest.

Those video-game like numbers — along with helping lead Lapwai to its third Idaho Class IA DI state championship in the last four years — helped Wynott be named the 2023-24 Idaho Gatorade boys basketball player of the year.

Wynott became Idaho’s all-time leading high school scorer last season when he converted a layup for his 2,590th career point in a 99-47 win against Clearwater Valley on Jan. 25. The record broke Kamiah alum Jared Mercer’s mark of 2,589 set in 1993.

Wynott finished his high school career with 2,962 points.

Just five days before breaking the all-time scoring record, Wynott broke the Idaho single-game scoring record with a 68-point performance in a 105-43 win against Genesee.

He also contributed 46 points in Lapwai’s 67-54 state championship win over Lakeside (Plummer) on March 3.

“Through hard work and dedication, Kase has proven time and time again why he is considered one of the best basketball players in the state of Idaho,” Lapwai coach Zachary Eastman said last month after Wynott won the Gatorade award. “Kase is a role model in the L-C Valley and Lapwai. Coaching him for four years has been a journey I will never forget and his legacy is cemented in Idaho history books.”

Wynott is the first high school recruit for Riley, who accepted the WSU coaching gig on April 2 after former coach Kyle Smith departed for Stanford.

Last season, the Cougars went 25-10 and earned their first trip to the NCAA tournament in 16 years.