​Replacing the production of Hannes Steinbach will be no small task for Danny Sprinkle and the Washington Huskies, after the German forward averaged 18.5 points and 11.8 rebounds per game in his one year on Montlake before he was selected by the Charlotte Hornets with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft.Without the All-Big Ten Third Team honoree, Sprinkle is looking to a pair of returners: junior center Lathan Sommerville and sophomore forward Nikola Dzepina as a pair of breakout candidates to help ease his loss in the frontcourt.”Lathan Sommerville, he’s finally healthy, he’s in better shape, he’s actually in great shape for him,” Sprinkle said in an interview on the Big Ten Network during Big Ten Media Days on Thursday. “He’s playing with a lot more confidence.”Breakout season loading… 👀Danny Sprinkle has high expectations for Lathan Sommerville and Nikola Dzepina at @UW_MBB 🌟 pic.twitter.com/RBmw7dSwGG— Washington on BTN (@WashingtonOnBTN) October 8, 2026Sommerville averaged 4.3 points and 2.6 rebounds per game across 22 appearances in his first year on Montlake while dealing with a knee injury, while Dzepina was thrust into action quickly after arriving mid-season following an injury to center Mady Traore.In 14 appearances, the Serbian forward averaged 2.6 points and 1.3 rebounds per game while adjusting to the playbook. Now, with an entire offseason to get comfortable after Sprinkle’s coaching staff had plenty of praise for his offensive skill set, he could be poised for a big step forward.”He’s made huge strides,” Sprinkle added. “His body, he’s grown a little bit. He played with Team Serbia this summer…has a lot more confidence…he helped us win a couple games last year, knocking down some threes against USC, Ohio State, our home game where we beat them; he had some flashes.”This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Danny Sprinkle expecting breakouts from pair of returning big men