Nigel Williams-Goss, a two-year basketball starter at the University of Washington and a 2013 McDonald’s All-American, said he will transfer to Gonzaga.
Williams-Goss visited UNLV and Providence and had a trip scheduled for Ohio State but called it off after visiting Gonzaga’s campus over the weekend.
“I like the job Coach (Mark Few) does as far as being prepared, winning at a high level and the job they’ve done with redshirts,” Williams-Goss said. “The up-tempo offense with the ball screens really suits my style.”
Williams-Goss, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound guard, led UW in scoring (15.6) and assists (5.9) last season while earning second-team All-Pac-12 honors. He averaged 13.4 points in 2013-14 and was named to the All-Pac-12 freshman team.
Williams-Goss will sit out next season under NCAA transfer rules and have two years of eligibility remaining. In 2016-17, he will join a backcourt that includes Josh Perkins, Silas Melson and Bryan Alberts.
“I’m definitely a point guard and I know Josh is a point guard as well but Gonzaga has a history of doing well with two point guards playing at the same time,” Williams-Goss said.
The Zags and Huskies will renew their rivalry in the 2016-17 season. There’s also a chance the teams could meet this November at the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas. Gonzaga has had success with Washington transfers, including Jeff Brown, Dan Dickau and Erroll Knight.
“It (renewing the series) didn’t really play a part,” Williams-Goss said. “But even before I scheduled a visit to Gonzaga, I talked to Coach (Lorenzo) Romar and made sure it wasn’t an issue and it wasn’t.”
Williams-Goss, who has a 3.74 GPA, was named third-team CoSIDA Academic All-American, the first UW men’s basketball player to be named an academic All-American.
“I just had that gut feeling that (GU) is where I’m supposed to be,” he said. “All the players were very receptive and encouraging.”
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