Washington Huskies Basketball: Williams-Goss Won’t Disappoint

April 3, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; McDonald’s All American west guard Nigel Williams-Goss (0) brings the ball upcourt against east guard Anthony Barber (12) during the McDonalds All American Games at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Due to the recent struggles with the UW Basketball program, many fans have questioned the job of head coach Lorenzo Romar.  Romar has never been thought of as a great X’s and O’s coach, but has been able to bring in an influx of talent to make the Dawgs competitive. These last last few years, critics have called out Romar’s recruiting because of his inability to land a quality big man, as well as a struggle to keep in state talent. But Romar has landed a 2013 signee that will change the face of the UW program. Nigel Williams-Goss already has a resume that few other incoming freshman can match.

Leaving his home in Happy Valley, Ore., before his freshman year of high school, Williams-Goss headed to Las Vegas to join national powerhouse Findlay Prep. He would go on to become the school’s first four-year player, as well as its all-time scoring and assists leader. Quite the feat, considering Findlay Prep has produced the likes of Cory Joseph, Avery Bradley and Myck Kabango.

He was the first sophomore to ever start for the program, won two NHSI national championships, and finished with a career record of 124-8. On top of being selected to both the McDonald’s All-American Game and Jordan Brand Classic, Williams-Goss was also named to the U19 National Team this week.

But things haven’t always come easy for Williams-Goss. Instead of starring in his home town, he decided to enroll at Findlay Prep, where he had to earn his minutes. With other All-Americans at his position as a freshman, Williams-Goss only got minutes during blow out wins, but gained experience by facing the best everyday in practice.

Even though he had started for one of the nations best programs since he was a sophomore, Williams-Goss wasn’t rated as one of the top prospects in the nation at the start of his senior season. Rivals rated Williams-Goss as a four-star prospect, the 19th best point guard and 61st overall. ESPN had him rated as the No. 49 player in the nation.

That all changed in one night this past January. In a matchup of the top two high school teams in the nation, Findlay Prep overcame a double-digit halftime deficit to beat Monteverde behind a magnificent fourth quarter performance by Williams-Goss. Scoring 18 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter and nailing a game winning 3-pointer at the buzzer, Williams-Goss sealed the deal for Findlay Prep. The school’s 42nd straight victory put Williams-Goss on the map and helped get him the national attention he deserved.

Besides being an All-American point guard, Williams-Goss defines a true student-athlete. Williams-Goss held a perfect 4.0 GPA throughout his high school career and held an offer from Harvard University.

Although the career of the last Husky All-American point guard, Abdul Gaddy, might not have gone as planned for the Dawgs, Nigel Williams-Goss will become a household name, elevating Husky basketball to the next level in the process. He has faced adversity, played against the best talent in the nation and succeeded on all levels. Alongside his fellow newcomers, the 2013-2014 Washington Huskies will make the NCAA Tournament and could be a team to be reckoned with.