Riseandfire10
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2013 prospect who was committed to UNLV, according to Dave Telep.
Kruger watching Nigel Williams-Goss
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Soonerpirate12
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I'm sorry but I don't think he could play here!
seniorsooner
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BigTime
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Former UNLV and current Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger watches Nigel Williams-Goss play Friday, July 22, 2011 during the adidas Super 64 tournament at Rancho High. Williams-Goss committed to UNLV, but de-committed when Kruger left for OU.
Nigel Williams-Goss learned the hard way that things in the game of recruiting can change in an instant and be completely out of your control.
That's what happened to him on April 1, when then-UNLV coach Lon Kruger, who for two years had cultivated a relationship with him and his family, suddenly left Las Vegas to take over at Oklahoma.
Williams-Goss surprised many when, back in December, he decided to commit to UNLV midway through his sophomore season at Findlay Prep.
He decommitted from UNLV after Dave Rice was hired. Williams-Goss wasn't writing UNLV off completely by doing so, but he wasn't going to stay committed to a coaching staff that he had no relationship with, either.
"It's been pretty good with coach Rice and (associate head) coach (Justin) Hutson," he said. "It's gotten off to a good start. I think that relationship is beginning to blossom.
"They just seem really genuine. They seem like they really mean what they say and they're true to their word, which is big to me. They seem like they've been understanding of my situation since coach Kruger left. I really like that they weren't mad. They understood. It gave me a perspective that they were open-minded."
Now, Williams-Goss is committed to slowing his recruitment down the second time around.
UNLV is still involved. So, of course, is Oklahoma, whose staff has been tight with Williams-Goss and his father, Virgil, since the family moved to Las Vegas from Portland in time for Nigel to become the first freshman to play at Findlay. Then there's a handful of Pac-12 schools, such as Washington and Oregon. But he understands that there's no need to rush.
"I already kind of have a timetable set, and I think I'll make my decision known midway through my senior year," he said. "I have a whole bunch of offers, but no leaders or anything like that."
He's playing pressure-free ball, too, as the packed July schedule hits its peak.
His Double Pump Elite team opened up pool play on Friday morning at the adidas Super 64 with an ugly 53-50 upset victory over Indiana Elite at Rancho High, with Williams-Goss scoring 18 points along the way. Both Hutson and Kruger were in attendance.
It's all building toward him taking a more prominent role at Findlay next season, after the Pilots' 2011-12 season ended in disappointment, falling short of their third consecutive ESPN Rise National High School Invitational title in Bethesda, Md., back in April.
Meanwhile, he says he'll be keeping a close eye on UNLV.
"Vegas is my hometown. It's where I'll be for four years of my high school career; it's home to me," he said. "I still love it just as much as I did when I committed to UNLV.
"I know (Rice) was the offensive guy for BYU and (Hutson) did a great deal for San Diego State. I'm looking forward to seeing what they do coming together, what their offense looks like, what their defense looks like. I'm just kind of excited to see. I'll be at the games, and I'll be checking them out."
Former UNLV and current Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger watches Nigel Williams-Goss play Friday, July 22, 2011 during the adidas Super 64 tournament at Rancho High. Williams-Goss committed to UNLV, but de-committed when Kruger left for OU.
Nigel Williams-Goss learned the hard way that things in the game of recruiting can change in an instant and be completely out of your control.
That's what happened to him on April 1, when then-UNLV coach Lon Kruger, who for two years had cultivated a relationship with him and his family, suddenly left Las Vegas to take over at Oklahoma.
Williams-Goss surprised many when, back in December, he decided to commit to UNLV midway through his sophomore season at Findlay Prep.
He decommitted from UNLV after Dave Rice was hired. Williams-Goss wasn't writing UNLV off completely by doing so, but he wasn't going to stay committed to a coaching staff that he had no relationship with, either.
"It's been pretty good with coach Rice and (associate head) coach (Justin) Hutson," he said. "It's gotten off to a good start. I think that relationship is beginning to blossom.
"They just seem really genuine. They seem like they really mean what they say and they're true to their word, which is big to me. They seem like they've been understanding of my situation since coach Kruger left. I really like that they weren't mad. They understood. It gave me a perspective that they were open-minded."
Now, Williams-Goss is committed to slowing his recruitment down the second time around.
UNLV is still involved. So, of course, is Oklahoma, whose staff has been tight with Williams-Goss and his father, Virgil, since the family moved to Las Vegas from Portland in time for Nigel to become the first freshman to play at Findlay. Then there's a handful of Pac-12 schools, such as Washington and Oregon. But he understands that there's no need to rush.
"I already kind of have a timetable set, and I think I'll make my decision known midway through my senior year," he said. "I have a whole bunch of offers, but no leaders or anything like that."
He's playing pressure-free ball, too, as the packed July schedule hits its peak.
His Double Pump Elite team opened up pool play on Friday morning at the adidas Super 64 with an ugly 53-50 upset victory over Indiana Elite at Rancho High, with Williams-Goss scoring 18 points along the way. Both Hutson and Kruger were in attendance.
It's all building toward him taking a more prominent role at Findlay next season, after the Pilots' 2011-12 season ended in disappointment, falling short of their third consecutive ESPN Rise National High School Invitational title in Bethesda, Md., back in April.
Meanwhile, he says he'll be keeping a close eye on UNLV.
"Vegas is my hometown. It's where I'll be for four years of my high school career; it's home to me," he said. "I still love it just as much as I did when I committed to UNLV.
"I know (Rice) was the offensive guy for BYU and (Hutson) did a great deal for San Diego State. I'm looking forward to seeing what they do coming together, what their offense looks like, what their defense looks like. I'm just kind of excited to see. I'll be at the games, and I'll be checking them out."
Soonerpirate12
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Because he doesn't look athletic first of all and I'm tired of signing the smalltime players!
Get used to being tired. Krueger has no history of signing the elite recruits.
WillJennings
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Williams-Goss is definetely still on OU's radar and he may make an unofficial visit in the fall, but Jordan Woodard of Edmond Memorial is OU's number one pg option in 2013. They have been at every game he has played this summer besides one half of the game yesterday when he arrived late to Florida to play with Athletes First 16u.
Woodard arrived at that game and Athletes First 16u was down 12 points with 10 minutes to go and he sparked a run that helped them pull out a victory as they continue to play today. Stevie Clark and Shaquille Morris are two players on that team that OU continues to show interest.
Woodard arrived at that game and Athletes First 16u was down 12 points with 10 minutes to go and he sparked a run that helped them pull out a victory as they continue to play today. Stevie Clark and Shaquille Morris are two players on that team that OU continues to show interest.
Soonerpirate12
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I agree and that's one thing I hate because what you have to do now is sign the one and dones! As mch as I hate it it is a huge part of the game now!
Soonerpirate12
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Come on really you're gonna bring butler into this?
Considering your post expressly stated you have to sign one and dones, then yes, I am going to bring in Butler. In fact, the last four teams who have played for a national championship did not have a single one and done on their roster.
The fact is, you do not have to sign one and dones to compete at the highest level. Period.
If a Blake or Kevin Durant show up with a gym bag and want to play, Kruger will suit them up. But, I don't think that he will go out of his way trying to chase one down. You don't have to have them to win and they usually have other and better options. And some of them might want alittle extra to come and play.
