Difference maker for WSU men’s basketball team

Brock Motum arrived on the Washington State campus as thin as a young Golden Wattle tree from his native Australia.

At 6-foot-9 and 205 pounds, he didn’t fit anyone’s description of a power forward.

That’s changed. As has Motum’s physique.

He’s now 6-10 and weighs 245 pounds. He can handle himself around the basket against the bigs in the Pac-12, and he needs to.

“When DeAngelo (Casto) departed, I thought my role would change a bit from my first two years playing here,” said Motum, who averaged 7.6 points and 3 rebounds last season. “So I thought this offseason I would add some strength and add some weight. And I would work on some of my inside moves, add that to my game.”

WSU coach Ken Bone is on record as saying the Cougars need to replace the 6-8 Casto’s inside presence if they want to be successful. The key element of that will be Motum. He will have to score but also rebound on the defensive end.

“I expect both of myself,” he said. “I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that happens.”