Downs joins Zags

Micah Downs, a 6-foot-8 freshman transfer from Kansas, has officially enrolled at Gonzaga and has practiced with the Bulldogs the past two days.

Downs, a former in-state prep standout at Juanita High School in Kirkland, completed the enrollment process at GU earlier this week after receiving the blessing of Kansas coach Bill Self, who told the Lawrence Journal-World he spoke with Downs by cell phone and saw no reason to interfere with his decision to leave the Jayhawks program.

“Based on reports we received on campus from housing and academics, he has fulfilled requirements to check out as a student,” Self said. “Micah will be issued a release to visit with and attend Gonzaga University.”

Self said his most recent phone conversation with Downs, who announced he was leaving Kansas because of “personal reasons” and a desire to relocate closer to his home, were private in nature and should stay that way.

According to the Journal-World, it had been thought that Downs did not have much in the way of personal support group in the Lawrence area and spent much of his free time phoning his girlfriend, who still lives in Washington.

Downs said early last week that he would be willing to talk to the media once the enrollment process at Gonzaga had been completed, but neither he nor Bulldogs coach Mark Few returned phone messages left earlier this week.

It is presumed that Downs, who averaged 4.3 points in the 13 games he played for Kansas this winter, will have to pay his way at GU for at least the rest of the this semester, because the Bulldogs have the NCAA limit of 13 players on scholarship.

Downs, a former McDonald’s and Parade Magazine All-American, was recruited heavily by Few and his staff while he was in high school and had reportedly narrowed his college choices to GU, Duke and Kansas before signing with the Jayhawks.