BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University men's basketball program has announced the addition of eight players for the 2026-27 season.

 

Head coach Tony Dominguez adds five freshman players and three transfers to the roster that features 18 players for the upcoming 2026-27 season.

 

The incoming recruiting class is highlighted by the return of junior guard Grant Kepley, the 2024-25 GNAC Freshman of the Year while averaging 14.7 points and 4.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game for the Vikings. Kepley played last season at NCAA Division I University of Montana appearing in 28 games with 10 starts for the Grizzlies. He averaged 6.2 points, 2.8 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game.

 

Kepley is joined by his cousin and former Sehome High School teammate Grey Garrison in the recruiting class. Garrison began his collegiate career at Oregon State and played last season at Henderson State where he appeared in all 29 games.

 

Junior college transfer Brayden Gant lands at WWU with impressive credentials as an All-Region player at Central Arizona College. The guard/wing capped his JC career with a standout sophomore season averaging 16.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.1 assist per game with five double-doubles.

 

The star-studded class also features Washington State 3A Player of the Year Brian Webster from O'Dea High School in Seattle and Northwest Conference MVP Ethan DeJong from Sedro-Woolley High School. A pair of guard/wing players – Kaleb DeHaan and Beckham King – join the Western squad after a year at Phoenix Prep in Arizona, the same academy that produced 2026 GNAC Freshman of the Year Dennis Johnson III (now at Portland State). Local 1,000-point scorer and Northwest Conference First Team player Logan Heigert remains close to home after a record-breaking prep career at Burlington-Edison High School.

 

"With the ever-changing landscape of collegiate basketball and current rosters, we are pleased with our recruiting class for next season. We do have some key returners with Trevor White, Anthony Canales, Bennet Olujic, Liam Slattum and Jaxon Dubiel that provide experience in the program and team leadership, along with redshirt freshman Cruz Veliz, Lorenzo Garcia and Hugo Henrikson." said Dominguez. "We really like the blend of returning and new players. Our Goal was to find guys that fit roles and play at a high energy level with high level talent. Adding a tremendously talented returner In Grant Kepley and a familiar bigger wing/forward in Grey Garrison fits great with our goals. Also adding a new player with experience in Brayden Gant as a high-level bigger wing and our youth movement should round out a balanced roster well. We are very excited about our potential heading into the 2026-27 season."

 

Here is detailed look at the roster additions for the Vikings with information on each new player listed below:

 

 

Kepley returns to WWU with two years of eligibility remaining … spent his sophomore season in 2025-26 at the University of Montana … appeared in 28 games (10 starts) for the Grizzlies, averaging 21.4 minutes per game … averaged 6.2 points, 2.8 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game … scored season-high 15 points at Louisville, one of eight double-figure scoring performances … as a redshirt freshman in 2024-25 was the GNAC Freshman of the Year and All-GNAC honorable mention … appeared in 26 games averaging 14.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game … prep standout at Sehome High School (Bellingham) and North Creek High School (Bothell) … 2A Second Team All-State selection as a senior.

 

Gant is a 6-5 wing transferring to WWU from Central Arizona College … has two years of collegiate eligibility remaining … two-time All-Region player for the Vaquero's including first-team honors as a sophomore in 2025-26 … top 100 JUCO Honorable Mention … averaged 16.6 points while shooting 47.6-percent from the field (182-for-382) and 34.0-percent from 3-point range (35-for-103) … also averaged 5.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while scoring in double-digits in 26 of 29 games … scored season-high 31 points on 13-for-25 shooting vs. Cochise College … over two seasons at CAC averaged 15.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.1 blocked shots per game … Pinal County Player of the Year as a senior at Coolidge High School.

 

Webster is a 6-3 guard that scored over 1,400 points during his prep career at O'Dea High School … selected as the 3A State Player of the Year during his senior season in 2025-26 … averaged 20.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game as a senior … First Team All-Metro … four-year varsity letterwinner … selected to play in the Washington vs. Oregon All-Star game … scored 31 points in showdown against nationally-ranked Rainier Beach … played club for Beauchamp Elite 3SSB.

 

Garrison is a versatile 6-7 forward that grew up in Carver Gym … prep standout at Sehome High School before spending first two collegiate seasons at Oregon State … transfers to WWU from Henderson State (Arkadelphia, Arkansas) where he appeared in all 29 game for the Reddies averaging 2.6 points and 2.2 rebounds per game … shot 47.5-percent from the field (28-for-59) … recorded 11-point, 11-rebound double-double vs. Champion Christian … part of Oregon State program for two seasons, appearing in four games … First Team Northwest Conference player averaging 19.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game … played club for Friends of Hoop Emerald City … son of WWU women's basketball coach Carmen Dolfo.

 

DeJong stays close to home after a standout prep career at Sedro-Woolley High School … earned Northwest Conference MVP honors during his senior season in 2025-26 … as a senior averaged 27.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.8 steals per game helping lead the Cubs to an 18-6 record … shot 56.1-percent from the field and scored in double figures in all 24 games with a season-high 37 points against Monroe … four-time Northwest All-Conference selection including second-team as a sophomore and first-team honoree as a junior and senior … Sedro-Woolley all-time leading scorer with over 1700 career points … Skagit Valley Herald Boys' Basketball Player of the Year in 2024-25 and 2025-26 … also ran track for SWHS as a hurdle specialist, placing second at districts in the 110m hurdles in 14.67 and third in the 300m hurdles … won the 110m hurdles at the PeeWee Halsell High School Invitational hosted by WWU with time of 14.90.

 

DeHaan joins the program after starring for Eastlake High School and Phoenix Prep … was a two-time KingCo all-conference selection for Eastlake and the 2024-25 KingCo Mountain MVP … as a junior averaged 19.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game … as a standout shooter for Phoenix Prep as a senior averaged 16.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per game while shooting 44.0-percent from three-point range … recorded five games with 20+ points including season-high 34 points with nine 3-pointers vs. Utah Prep.

 

King is a 6-9 wing with strong perimeter shooting … played three varsity seasons for Seattle Prep completing a post-graduate year at Phoenix Prep … earned First Team All-Metro and First Team All-State during his senior season helping lead Seattle Prep to a 4th-place finish in the state tournament … averaged 19.0 points and 8.4 rebounds per game as a senior and 21.0 points and 8.0 rebounds as a junior … scored over 1,000 points during his career at Seattle Prep … played club for Washington Supreme and Beauchamp Elite … father, Rich, was selected by the Seattle SuperSonics 14th overall in the 1991 NBA Draft after playing collegiately at Nebraska … brother Christian plays at Montana State. 

 

Heigert is a 6-6 guard/wing combo and left-handed shooter out of Burlington-Edison High School … two-time First Team All-Northwest Conference selection as a junior and senior … during senior season in 2025-26 averaged 25.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game … scored over 1,000 points during his career at BEHS … had monster 45-point, 13-rebound game going 5-for-6 from 3-point range in win over Ferndale … played club for Friends of Hoop.