Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Former Rebels commit Williams-Goss coming to UNLV for official visit

The Findlay Prep product is transferring after two years at Washington, where he averaged 15.6 points last season

Nigel Williams-Goss

Elaine Thompson / AP

Washington’s Nigel Williams-Goss, left, drives against Washington State’s D.J. Shelton in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Feb. 28, 2014, in Seattle. Washington won 72-49.

UNLV will get the first chance to woo former Rebels commit Nigel Williams-Goss as the Washington transfer is coming to Las Vegas this weekend for an official visit.

After leading the Huskies in points, assists and minutes as a sophomore, Williams-Goss has two years of eligibility remaining. Other visits he has set up, according to CBS Sports, are at Providence (4/24), Texas (5/1) and Georgetown (5/8), with Michigan State and Gonzaga still in the mix as well.

Williams-Goss, the first four-year player at Findlay Prep, originally committed to UNLV coach Lon Kruger and then reopened his recruitment when Kruger left for Oklahoma. A native of Happy Valley, Ore., Williams-Goss eventually decided to go to Washington, where he averaged 13.4 points as a freshman and 15.6 points as a sophomore, with a 1.8 assist-to-turnover ratio over both seasons.

Current UNLV assistant Todd Simon was an assistant at Findlay Prep and took over as the Pilots’ head coach for Williams-Goss’ senior season.

After his freshman season, Williams-Goss considered declaring for the NBA Draft, and when he recently received his release from Washington, there were numerous reports about a rift between Williams-Goss and his teammates and coaches. Not true, Williams-Goss told the Seattle Times.

“There’s just a lot of changes that’s gone on in the program the last two years and continuing,” he said. “Just for the stability aspect and really just kind of looking for a fresh start for my last two years of eligibility.”

Washington started the year 11-0 and was 14-5 when Robert Upshaw, the former Fresno State forward who was leading the nation in blocks for the Huskies, was dismissed from the program. Washington would lose nine of its next 10 and finish the season 16-15, a year after going 17-15.

Williams-Goss’ decision is one of many impending announcements that will affect UNLV’s lineup in the seasons to come. Others include sophomore Christian Wood deciding whether to return or enter the NBA Draft, Findlay Prep commit Justin Jackson staying in the class of 2016 or reclassifying to 2015 and Bishop Gorman High senior Stephen Zimmerman picking between UNLV and a quartet of blue bloods.

Taylor Bern can be reached at 948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/taylorbern.

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