Ernie Kent has maintained he wants to make players from the state of Washington the foundation of the rebuilding Cougars program.

Monday, he took another positive step in that direction by securing the signature of 2017 Tacoma (WA) Henry Foss three-star small forward Roberto Gittens, who was recently named the Tacoma News Tribune’s Boys Basketball Player of the Year, upon a national letter of intent.

Gittens is the third straight AP State Player of the Year (by classification) and third-straight Tacoma News Tribune All-Area Boys Basketball Player of the Year to join the WSU men's basketball program in the past two years, joining Viont'e Daniels (Federal Way, Wash.; 2015) and Malachi Flynn (Tacoma, Wash.; 2016).

"It's going to be a joy to coach another Washington State Player of the Year," Kent said in a school release . "Roberto is a well-skilled athlete and a great teammate, who will fit well in our program. We're excited for his career here at WSU and to see what he can accomplish along with his teammates."

Gittens, who led Henry Foss to the 2017 Class 2A State Championship, averaging 22 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 2 blocks during the 2016-17 season, committed to Boise State last year before decommitting from the Broncos in April.

He averaged 21.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 2.1 assists as a junior in 2015-16 and was named second-team All-State by the Associated Press. He first gained widespread attention when he won the slam dunk championship at the prestigious Les Schwab Invitational in Hillsboro, Ore. in 2015.

One of the dunkers he beat in the contest was future Washington star Markelle Fultz, projected by most analysts as the possible No. 1 pick in June's NBA Draft..

Gittens announced his pledge to WSU on his Twitter feed earlier today. He is the third 2017 commitment for Kent and Washington State.

He joins a class that includes Davante Cooper (6-11, 235, Tyler Junior College) and Kwinton Hinson (6-4, 215, Guard, Tyler Junior College), both of whom signed NLIs in November during the early signing period.

The Cougars have two remaining scholarships open.