Brigham Young post player transfers to Gonzaga

David Burgess, a 6-foot-10, 250-pound center, who was considered to be one of the top big-man recruits in the country coming out of Woodbridge High School in Irvine, Calif., two years ago, has transferred from Brigham Young to Gonzaga.

Burgess said he has enrolled at GU, and will start classes today.

“It came down to whatever I thought would make me the best player I could be,” Burgess said during a phone conversation on Tuesday evening. “And Gonzaga has proven that they can develop big men. Just look at Ronny Turiaf, Casey Calvary and Richard Fox.”

Burgess, who made a recruiting trip to Gonzaga after averaging 19 points, 13 rebounds and four blocked shots during his senior year at Woodbridge, appeared in only two games as a freshman at Brigham Young in 2004-05 before undergoing surgery on both of his ankles.

He played in only three games for the Cougars (9-5) this year, scoring just two points and pulling down five rebounds prior to deciding to transfer.

He contends, however, that his ankles are sound and he’s ready to contribute for the Bulldogs as soon as possible – which will be next December, after he sits out one year under the NCAA’s transfer rule.

“The coaching staff and, mostly the environment, around here is exactly what I was looking for,” Burgess said. “This school gives me the best chance to play professionally, which is exactly what I want to do.”

Burgess will become eligible to play for GU at the start of the second semester in December 2006, as a redshirt sophomore, and will have two years of eligibility remaining after that.