ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Central Washington men's basketball has announced the signing of Grant Wardenaar, a 6-foot-5 guard from Royal City, Washington, who will join the Wildcats following his high school career at Royal High School.
 
Wardenaar has established himself as one of the top players in the South Central Athletic Conference, earning first-team All-State honors and SCAC Player of the Year recognition. He has also helped lead the Knights to a third-place finish at the 1A state basketball tournament while becoming Royal High School's all-time leading scorer, surpassing 1,600 career points.
 
"We are excited to be adding Grant to our Wildcat Basketball program," said CWU Head Coach Brandon Rinta. "He has the ability to impact the game in so many ways on both ends of the floor. His skill set and athleticism make him a great fit for our style of play. Most importantly, he is a proven winner. He has helped every team he has been a part of win at a high level."
 
In addition to his success on the basketball court, Wardenaar is a standout two-sport athlete at Royal High School, serving as the Knights' starting quarterback and helping lead the football program to a state championship in 2025. He also competes with Select Basketball, an Idaho-based travel basketball program.
 
Wardenaar chose Central Washington for its coaching staff, basketball program and facilities. He will arrive in Ellensburg with a strong competitive background and a desire to continue building on his high school success.