Jim Meehan

The Nigel Williams-Goss youth basketball camp has always been a family affair. The former Gonzaga standout's dad, Virgil, helps run the event and nephew Kaden works with young campers. Williams-Goss added to the roster at this year’s camp, which concludes a three-day run Wednesday at The HUB Sports Center. His wife Kirstyn, a former University of Washington softball player, was Tuesday’s guest speaker, and 13-month-old son Naz showed impressive court coverage, usually with a ball in his hands and usually with Kirstyn, Virgil or Nigel’s mom, Valerie, in pursuit.

Kaden Cooper, a four-star recruit in the 2023 class, has Gonzaga in his list of 10 finalists.

Former Gonzaga guard Geno Crandall has signed with BC Göttingen in Germany after two standout seasons in the British Basketball League (BBL).

The long-rumored next destination in Kevin Pangos’ professional basketball career became official Wednesday. The former Gonzaga standout has reached a two-year agreement with Olimpia Milano, according to the Italian professional team based in Milan.

Gonzaga standouts Josh Perkins is on the move and Filip Petrusev is returning home for the 2022-23 professional season.

Scott Erdmann has been playing in the Rosauers Open Invitational for two decades so he understands how to negotiate venerable Indian Canyon Golf Course. Erdmann followed up Friday’s 7-under 64 with a business-like 67 to share the top spot with former Washington State Cougar Blake Snyder (63-68) entering Sunday’s final round.

A handful of former college players with ties to the Inland Northwest, including a pair of Gonzaga standouts, are set to play in The Basketball Tournament (TBT). Former GU forward Kyle Wiltjer, 2015 AP third-team All-American, and guard Admon Gilder, a double-figures scorer on the Zags’ 31-2 squad in 2020, are on different teams chasing the $1 million awarded to the champion of the 64-team, single-elimination tournament that begins Saturday.

The Zags will face Michigan State on the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln in the San Diego harbor in honor of Veterans Day. The contest, which will air in primetime on ESPN, marks the return of ESPN Events’ Armed Forces Classic that was sidelined the last years by COVID-19.

Colin Inglis has something to shoot for this week at the 35th Rosauers Open Invitational. It’s been 27 years since Greg Whisman became the only player in tournament history to win consecutive championships in 1994-95. Corey Prugh, Jeff Coston, Derek Bayley, Michael Combs and Chris Mitchell own multiple Rosauers titles, but not in back-to-back years.

What the Fairways didn’t have this year was the Lilac City Invitational, the course’s annual tournament/funfest/party that has been on golf calendars nearly every year since it was founded by then Downriver pro Joe Durgan in 1960. The 57th edition of the Lilac was staged last June. By late fall, word started getting out there wouldn’t be a 58th version with course ownership planning to build a housing development on the first seven holes.

Spokane’s Andrew Von Lossow shared first place and Washington State rising junior Preston Bebich worked overtime in a 36-hole qualifier Tuesday to clinch spots in next month’s U.S. Amateur.

Holmgren put up a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds as Oklahoma City snagged its second straight win, 87-71, at Vivint Arena.

Chet Holmgren made a strong first impression at Gonzaga in his only season as a Zag. He was even better Tuesday in his summer league debut with Oklahoma City. Holmgren took over in the first quarter, piling up three 3-pointers, a soaring dunk, three blocks, one steal and one assist against Utah at Vivint Arena in the Salt Lake City summer league.

Gonzaga will have single games this season against San Diego and Pacific and tangle with everyone in the West Coast Conference twice, including Portland for the first time since the 16-game scheduling format was adopted five years ago.

Summer hoops are in progress for several former Gonzaga standouts playing in FIBA World Cup 2023 qualifiers and the Big3.

ESPN released the nominations for the 2022 ESPY awards show and there are several reasons for Inland Northwest sports fans to tune in for the broadcast on July 20th from Los Angeles. Former Eastern Washington football star Cooper Kupp, former Washington State basketball standout Klay Thompson, ex-Gonzaga forward Chet Holmgren and Spokane’s Julianna Peña are among the awards finalists.

After four days of residing on the U.S. Open leaderboard, Joel Dahmen learned a ton about his game and dealing with the intense pressure of contending at a major championship. The Clarkston native liked what he saw, for the most part. Perhaps even more importantly, he goes forward with added confidence, recharged batteries and a clear understanding of what it might take to reach the winner’s circle.

We asked three NBA scouts, obviously under the condition of anonymity, for opinions on Holmgren and Nembhard. Holmgren, in particular, inspired lavish praise for his unique, guard-like skill set and concern over his slender 195-pound frame.

Joel Dahmen lost ground in the third round of the U.S. Open, but he had plenty of company. The good news for Dahmen? Only a small number of players solved the unforgiving conditions and the Clarkston native remains within striking range, just three behind co-leaders Will Zalatoris, who had the day’s low score with a 3-under 67, and Matt Fitzpatrick (68).

It was an eventful 18 holes Friday for Clarkston native Joel Dahmen, but the good easily outweighed the bad. Dahmen wasn’t quite as precise with his ball-striking as Thursday, but he still managed a 2-under 68 at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, to share the U.S. Open lead with two-time Major winner Collin Morikawa. The two are 5 under through 36 holes.

Joel Dahmen wasn’t even sure he wanted to try to qualify for the U.S. Open. Nine days later, the Clarkston native opened with a 3-under 67 Thursday, one shot behind Canadian Adam Hadwin at the 122nd U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.