​This coming season is shaping up to be a promising one for a former Washington Huskies men’s basketball standout. Forward Hannes Steinbach was selected with the 14th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets, and his transition to the NBA has already shown early signs of impact. After being assigned to Charlotte’s Summer League roster, Steinbach wasted no time making waves, delivering a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double in a win over the Orlando Magic. His strong start has continued, as he followed up with a standout performance against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, tallying 27 points, 15 rebounds, and three assists.
Through four Summer League games, Steinbach has averaged 14.3 points on 57.9 percent shooting across 23.3 minutes per game, along with 8.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists. Notably, his efficiency has come despite a cold spell from three-point range—he has yet to convert a three-pointer in Summer League play. Steinbach’s Summer League production aligns with what he demonstrated during his time at Washington, underscoring his potential to contribute at a high level in the NBA.
Steinbach’s performance at Washington reflected a strong individual season even though it did not translate into team wins. Under head coach Danny Sprinkle, the Huskies recruited Steinbach from Würzburg, Germany, and he immediately left an imprint in Montlake. He averaged 18.5 points over 30 games, starting each contest, while shooting 57.7 percent from the field. He also averaged 11.8 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, and 1.1 steals per game. Despite those strong personal numbers, Washington finished 16-17 and missed the NCAA Tournament for the seventh straight year.
Steinbach’s success as a standout international player helped establish a new recruiting pipeline for the Huskies. Last season, he became one of two international commitments for Washington, the other being Serbian forward Nikola Dzepina, who joined the team in the winter. This offseason, Washington expanded its international footprint with three new international recruits: Brazilian forward Wini Braga, Croatian forward Boris Tisma, and guard Tristan Devers. The program is also pursuing a fourth international addition, Slovenian guard Urban Kroflic, as it continues to build depth and talent across the roster.
With Steinbach now in Charlotte, the Huskies will be tasked with replenishing his high-level offensive production from other sources—primarily from the team’s international players and the various new additions and returning players who have recovered from injuries. The challenge for UW will be to maintain enough offensive punch to compete while integrating their new pieces and developing remaining young talent. For Steinbach, the immediate objective is clear: establish himself as a regular starter for the Hornets and demonstrate that his versatility, size (6-foot-11), and all-around instincts can translate into sustained NBA production.
As Steinbach pursues a starting role with Charlotte, Washington fans will be watching closely to gauge how his development travels from Summer League success to regular-season impact. The early signs are encouraging, suggesting that a former Huskies standout could continue to grow into a meaningful contributor at the highest level. For UW, the broader takeaway is that the program’s international recruitment strategy is yielding results, and Steinbach’s progression could serve as a model for how to cultivate and leverage international talent in future recruiting cycles.
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