OLYMPIA, Wash. – Reilly McIlraith (Jr., G) from The Evergreen State College men's basketball team is the Evergreen Featured Athlete of the Week for April 1, 2026. Prior to arriving at Evergreen, McIlraith competed in basketball at Centralia College. He previously played basketball, football, and soccer at Eatonville High School in Eatonville, Washington. McIlraith played in 22 games with two starts for the Geoducks in 2025-26.

For McIlraith, transferring to Evergreen allowed him to continue playing basketball at the college level. He was recruited by Evergreen Head Men's Basketball Coach Cameron Swanson.

"The thing I love most about being on the basketball team is honestly just getting another opportunity to play ball," McIlraith said. "After my time at Centralia, I kind of thought that I might be done and it was time to hang it up. But Cam came to me last-minute and gave me an opportunity, and I couldn't pass that up."

McIlraith also joined the Geoducks because competing at Evergreen allowed his family to see him play.

"I attended Evergreen because it is close to home," McIlraith explained. "My parents and grandparents love being able to watch me play, so I wanted to make sure they would still be able to do that."

Once McIlraith took to the court for the Geoducks, it was clear that he brought enthusiasm and effort. He works hard in all aspects of the game and fits in well with his teammates.

"I think I bring great energy to the team," McIlraith said. "I'm willing to go in there and play as hard as I can and do whatever my team needs me to do."

Off the court, McIlraith has been studying Business at Evergreen. He sees the benefits of a degree in Business but also has other plans for his career.

"I've been taking a lot of business classes so far. I feel like that is a good thing to have knowledge of, even just in life," McIlraith commented. "Once I graduate form here, hopefully next spring, I plan on becoming a firefighter."

McIlraith's basketball journey has brought him the relatively short distance from Eatonville High School to Centralia College to Evergreen. He's gained knowledge of the game at each location.

"The thing I'm most proud of in my career at Eatonville was the impact on the community," McIlraith said. "Eatonville is a small but tight-knit community. The town is very supportive of athletics, and the younger kids really look up to you in high school and beyond, which is pretty cool.

"What I remember most about my time at Centralia was the connection I had with my teammates," McIlraith added. "Both years there were about six to eight of us crammed into a dorm apartment. This helped create some strong bonds both o and off the court."

McIlraith has developed the skills needed to be both a student and an athlete. Learning, both in the classroom and on the court, has come naturally for him.

"In terms of balancing academics and sports, it's never really been a huge problem for me," McIlraith noted. "I enjoy school and enjoy learning new things. It really comes down to making sure you have a plan and have a good schedule or routine."