Corvallis Welcomes Yaak Yaak to Oregon State Men’s Basketball Team for 2025-26 Season
CORVALLIS – The Oregon State men’s basketball program is set to enhance its lineup with the addition of center Yaak Yaak for the upcoming 2025-26 season, announced head coach Wayne Tinkle on Friday.
The 6-foot-11 center hails from Adelaide, Australia, and has made an impressive mark during his sophomore season at Colorado Mesa, where he averaged 10.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Demonstrating athleticism, Yaak recorded 50 blocks across 27 games and shot 48.3 percent from the field. He notably scored in double figures for 17 games, with a personal best of 20 points against Western Colorado on March 1.
Coach Tinkle expressed enthusiasm about bringing Yaak into the fold. "With his unique length and athleticism, he complements our current roster beautifully. He’ll be invaluable on both ends of the court," Tinkle stated, emphasizing Yaak’s ability to protect the rim and finish plays with authority.
Yaak began his collegiate journey at New Mexico State and has experience in elite training environments, having spent two years at the NBA Global Academy in Canberra. His international experience includes representing Australia at the U19 FIBA World Cup.
"I felt drawn to this program after conversations with Coach Tinkle and Coach Haslam," Yaak said, noting their success in developing big players and the opportunity to compete in the Pac-12 next season. "I’m eager to contribute and make an impact."
Yaak will join a talented group of newcomers including Dez White, Malcolm Christie, and others as the Beavers look forward to a promising season ahead.
Oregon State Athletics remains committed to crafting exceptional and authentic student-athletes, adhering to its mission to "Build Excellent Authentic Visionary Student-Athletes" (Go BEAVS).
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