Washington Men’s Basketball Reportedly Pursuing Ex-Seattle U Center

Former Seattle University center Austin Maurer has been in contact with the Washington Huskies coaching staff as third-year coach Danny Sprinkle continues to round out his 2026-27 roster.

According to a report from Transfer Tapes, UW is one of 10 schools that have expressed interest in the 7-foot, 230-pound Medford, Oregon native since he entered the transfer portal last month. Arizona State, Northwestern, Rice, San Diego State, San Francisco, Syracuse, UNLV, and Xavier have also been in contact with the 2023-24 Oregon Gatorade Player of the Year.

Maurer began his college career at Grand Canyon before moving back up the West Coast to play for the Redhawks this past season. In 25 starts and 35 total appearances, the towering big man averaged 7.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game to help Seattle U to a 21-14 overall record in 2025-26.

Sprinkle saw up close how impactful Maurer can be when the sophomore scored a career-high 19 points along with 5 rebounds and 3 blocks in 28 minutes to lead SU to a 70-66 victory over UW at Climate Pledge Arena back in December.

With only one true center, junior reserve Lathan Sommervile, re-signed from this past season's roster for the 2026-27 season, and only two other forwards, sophomore Nikola Dzepina and senior Mady Traore, the Huskies are still seeking at least two more options to play the four and five positions this coming season for Sprinkle—including new Brazilian 6-foot-9 forward Wíni Braga.

Rumblings have maintained that ex-UW and Oregon center Franck Kepnang return to the school for his seventh season, but that has yet to truly be determined, leaving the staff to continue to search for other potential front-court options going into Sprinkle's third season in Seattle.

This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington Huskies pushing for former Seattle U center